A Blue Alert is a public warning system that is used to rapidly disseminate information to law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public to aid in the apprehension of violent criminals who have killed or seriously injured an officer in the line of duty. The National Blue Alert Network supports the use and integration of Blue Alert plans throughout the United States. Blue Alerts can also be issued when a suspect poses an imminent and credible threat to law enforcement, or when an officer is missing in the line of duty.
Similar to the Amber Alert system, Blue Alerts can be transmitted to television and radio stations, cellphones and wireless devices, overhead highway message signs, and other secondary alerting mechanisms. The Blue Alert provides officials with the ability to alert the public when a law enforcement officer has been injured, killed, or is missing. The alert pushes real-time information to the public, like the location of the incident and any identifying information – such as suspect or vehicle description – to help locate possible suspects.
Blue Alerts are transmitted to television and radio stations with the Emergency Alert System (EAS), as well as to cellphones and wireless devices with Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) . FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) includes an event code called Law Enforcement Blue Alert, or ”Blue Alert” . The Blue Alert Foundation was founded and operated by a 100% Service-Connected Disabled Veteran that served in the United States Army, Military Police (31B) and Communications Specialist (31Z) .
Blue Alerts may be used by local and state authorities to provide early warnings of violent threats against police and to help apprehend suspects. The rollout of Blue Alert is a nationwide effort to improve public safety communications, which is key to any police. There are currently 37 states with Blue Alert plans. In New York, the Blue Alert system was introduced after the assassination of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn more than 8 years ago.
