Senator Coons, a member of the Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, applauded the Judiciary Committee’s overwhelming and bipartisan passage Thursday of the National Blue Alert Act, S. 357. The bill, cosponsored by Senator Coons, would establish a national communications network to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer is injured or killed in the line of duty. Similar to the nationwide Amber Alert system for missing children, the Blue Alert would rapidly notify law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public to help aid in the apprehension of these most violent criminals.
The bill’s passage comes as Delaware law enforcement mark the two-year anniversary of New Castle County Police Lieutenant Joe Szczerba’s death in the line of duty. Lieutenant Szczerba was killed in September 2011 while apprehending a violent suspect and earned the Congressional Badge of Bravery for his heroic effort to detain his attacker until additional officers arrived on the scene.
“This week, we passed the second anniversary of the tragic line of duty death of Lieutenant Joe Szczerba from the New Castle County Police, which I had the honor of commanding in my role as county executive,” Senator Coons said. “Lieutenant Szcerba’s sacrifice is a potent reminder of the danger our law enforcement officers face every day as they work to keep our communities safe. The Blue Alert law is vitally important for the safety of our first responders and I commend the many co-sponsors of this bill for their leadership in this effort.”
As with the Amber Alert system, the purpose of the National Blue Alert Act is to create a voluntary partnership between the federal, state, and local governments, the media, and others. The bill would establish a national “Blue Alert” communications network within the Department of Justice to supplement the efforts of states that have already established Blue Alert systems, and serve as a central resource to aid more states in creating them. Delaware is one of 18 states with current or planned Blue Alert systems.
The type of coordination, consistent standards, and collaboration that will result from passage of the National Blue Alert Act is particularly critical in situations involving an individual wanted in connection with the death or injury of a law enforcement officer who crosses state lines.
The National Blue Alert Act is supported by law enforcement organizations including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Troopers Coalition, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department.