How to Visit Columbia County Sheriff's Office (FL)

Clear your schedule. A Columbia County Sheriff's Office Ride-Along lasts approximately eight hours, so avoid stacking appointments before or after.

You won't schedule this yourself at the front counter. Once your paperwork is approved, the patrol deputy will reach out to set a date and time for your ride-along.

Bring positive identification on the day of your ride. Be ready to follow the deputy's directions closely, especially if something urgent comes up during the shift. The program's waiver makes this explicit: in an emergency, you are expected to immediately and fully comply with all orders and directions from the deputy sheriff.

A heads-up if you're privacy-conscious: the application asks for your social security number. The Sheriff's Office collects it for administrative purposes, and those numbers are treated as confidential and exempt from Florida's public records act.

1. Complete the Ride-Along application packet: Fill out the Ride-Along application, including the Waiver, Release and Indemnification, and return it to the Sheriff’s Office before you ride.
2. Include the required supporting documents and submit it correctly: The application forms call for specific supporting documents (for example, a copy of a birth certificate and a copy of a current driver’s license). Your application must be properly completed and notarized, and faxed copies are not accepted.

1. Watch for the deputy’s call to schedule: Once you are approved, the patrol deputy will contact you and schedule the date and time to ride.

• ✓ Set aside about eight hours for the ride-along.
• ✓ Bring positive identification for check-in.
• ✓ Follow all orders and directions from the deputy immediately, especially in an emergency situation.

• ✓ Confirm the participant is enrolled in a school or youth law enforcement type program.
• ✓ Get a recommendation letter from the program director.
• ✓ Obtain approval from the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s designee before scheduling.

Before you submit anything, confirm the exact list of supporting documents with the Sheriff's Office. The forms must be completed and notarized, and faxed copies will not be accepted. Double-check the notarization steps and any other submission requirements before you turn everything in.

Verify the practical details for your specific ride-along date, too. The program says to expect approximately eight hours, and the patrol deputy is the one who contacts you to schedule. Your start time, meeting location, and any day-to-day variations should all come directly from the deputy when they set you up.

If a minor wants to participate, confirm the approval workflow before filling out paperwork. The policy requires enrollment in a school or youth law enforcement type program, a recommendation from the program director, and approval by the Sheriff or designee. Find out who should write the recommendation and how the Sheriff's approval is handled.