| (a) The Blue Alert Network ("network") was developed
as a statewide emergency response system to aid in the apprehension
of an individual(s) suspected of killing or causing serious bodily
injury to a law enforcement officer. The network is designed to be
activated when a law enforcement officer is killed or has suffered
bodily injury and the investigating agency believes the missing suspect
poses a threat to other law enforcement officers and to the public.
(b) Activation of the network outside the established
criteria will ultimately cause the public to disregard the notifications,
and the system will lose effectiveness. In order to maintain a high
level of effectiveness, the department and local law enforcement must
ensure that the circumstances justifying activation are accurately
evaluated in order to implement the network in responsible manner.
(c) Network activations must be limited to those instances
where the statutory criteria for activation are clearly established
by the specific facts of the case. The department has complete discretion
in making the final determination about the activation of the Blue
Alert Network.
|
