The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Communications Commission recently announced the nationwide rollout of the National Blue Alert Network. This initiative, which is being implemented by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, promotes the rapid dissemination of information to law enforcement, the media, and the public about violent offenders who have killed, seriously injured, or pose an imminent threat to law enforcement. The network will also share information in instances when an officer is missing in connection with official duties. The National Blue Alert Network represents an effort to enhance federal interagency cooperation and improve the safety and support for the nation’s law enforcement officers.
Blue Alerts will operate similarly to AMBER Alerts, which are designed to quickly provide information about missing children to the public. They can be broadcast on television and the radio, as well as sent to cellphones and other wireless devices, and provide details about possible assailants that include physical descriptions, vehicle information, and other identifying characteristics.
Read the full DOJ press release.
For more information about the National Blue Alert Network, click here.