BLUE Alerts are activated when a violent attack on a cop has occurred and poses an imminent threat to law enforcement or the general public.
Around three-fourths of US states use the alerts, which provide information to the public and to help a swift apprehension of the suspect.
What is a Blue Alert?
A Blue Alert will go out to aid in the capture of criminals who kill or seriously injure local, state, or federal law enforcement officers.
The National Blue Alert system allows for communication between law enforcement, transportation, and news, social, and wireless media to inform the media and the public when someone who killed or seriously injured an officer is on the run.
The system was created and first implemented in Florida in May 2008.
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In 2015, Congress passed the National Blue Alert Act, which instructed the Department of Justice to create a national Blue Alert communication system.
A blue alert was issued in February 2024 in the state of Tennessee after a sheriff's deputy was killed and another injured.
According to the Blount County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, Kenneth Dehart, is wanted on warrants for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Who receives Blue Alerts?
Blue Alerts are sent to the public and offer real-time information about a crime made against a police officer.
The alert system allows officials to alert the public about the location of an incident and any identifying information, such as a suspect or vehicle description.
They'll be transmitted to TV and radio stations, then later to cellphones and wireless devices.
Blue Alerts allow authorities to quickly disseminate information to other law enforcement agencies, the public, and media outlets.
The public is encouraged to call 911 if they witness a Blue Alert suspect.
They must describe the suspect, as well as provide their location and the make, model, and license plate of their vehicle, should there be any.
Do all states use Blue Alerts?
There are currently 37 states with Blue Alert plans., beginning with Florida and Texas in 2008, with New Jersey and Iowa signing up in 2020.
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Pennsylvania currently has a pending Blue Alert legislation/action.
Congress passed the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 in order to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans.
The law is named in honor of New York City Police Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu who were killed in an ambush attack on December 20, 2014.
There is also a National Blue Alert Foundation that was founded to support families of those who lost their lives on duty.