WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to pass the bipartisan National Blue Alert Act of 2011, which establishes a national network system that allows states to quickly communicate information to the public related to law enforcement officials who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.  Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and an original cosponsor to the legislation.

“When our police are wounded or killed on duty, catching the suspect before they inflict harm on others becomes the top priority of law enforcement agencies,” Senator Coons said. “This bill will better foster the wide-spread, rapid dissemination of information to the general public regarding a violent fugitive in order to bring the suspect into custody quickly. Our brave police officers put themselves in harm’s way day-in and day-out to protect our communities. Providing them with resources that allows for them to better communicate between agencies and states isn’t a partisan issue and I’m glad to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle today to create safety across state lines.”

Ten states, including Delaware, currently are in the process of implementing their own statewide Blue Alert system. This bill will provide other states with resources to implement the system.

Specifically the National Blue Alert Act of 2011 will:

  • Set forth general guidelines regarding when and how a Blue Alert should be issued. Specifically, when a law enforcement agency can confirm indications of death or injury of a police officer, the suspect remains at large, and sufficient information about the suspect getaway vehicle exists.
  • The information is then disseminated through media outlets and reported to state crime report agencies and the FBI’s National Crime Information Database.
  • Designate $10 million from the Department of Justice’s existing COPS Technology grants program funding toward Blue Alert development, training, and technologies.
  • Establish a Blue Alert national coordinator within the Department of Justice to develop operational guidelines that states could adopt voluntarily.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) was the original sponsor of the act. In addition to Senator Coons’ cosponsorship, other senator who cosponsored the bill include, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D – Conn.), Rob Portman (R – OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Lindsey Graham (R – S.C.), Amy Klobuchar (D – Minn.), Jon Kyl (R–Ariz.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D – R.I.).