what is an apb in police

An APB, or all-points bulletin, is a broadcast alert from one police station to all others in an area, state, etc., with instructions to arrest a particular suspect or find a particular vehicle in connection with a crime. It is an electronic information broadcast sent from one sender to a group of recipients to rapidly communicate an important message about a suspect or item of interest, which officers may be in search of. APBs are primarily used for individuals who are classified as dangerous and for crimes of high priority. An APB may also be issued for a "person of interest," which is a term used by the police when they want to find someone to interview him or her, but are not prepared to call him or her a suspect yet. It is not necessary that there be an official arrest warrant issued for a person to be the subject of an APB. In fact, an APB may be issued for missing persons or witnesses to a crime as well.