MOSES LAKE - If you are interested in a possible career in law enforcement or just simply interested in the police process then you are in luck, as the Moses Lake Police Department is bringing back their ride-along program.

The program is open to students 16 and over who are interested in a possible career in law enforcement, as well as adults 18 and over. People interested in participating will be asked to fill out an application and from there a quick background check will be done on the applicant, after which the person will be assigned an officer to ride with on a specific shift, according to Moses Lake Police Department Chief Kevin Fuhr.

Fuhr said the reasoning behind bringing back the program is three-fold:

• To provide transparency to policing by giving participants the opportunity to see what police do, why they do it and how they do it.

• To build a relationship between the department and the community by letting people connect with officers.

• Help build the law enforcement profession by giving people who are interested in a law enforcement career an opportunity to experience the profession first-hand and see if it is something they are truly interested in.

“I love it for the kids because if kids are starting to make decisions on what they want to do for a career they can ride with the officers and that might prompt them into going into a college in the criminal justice field,” Fuhr explained. “It's just a tool to help build those relationships with the community and build future cops.”

People interested in participating in the program are encouraged to stop by the MLPD, 411 S. Balsam St., and pick up the application, which includes legal liability and medical waivers. Fuhr said applicants can expect to be in a police car in about a week after their background checks goes through. The application will soon be going up on the city’s website.

For more information contact the MLPD at 509-764-3887.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.