HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Tuesday voted with a unanimous state Senate for a bill to create a Blue Alert System in Connecticut.
Crisco said the initiative would establish an important tool to help residents assist law enforcement personnel working to apprehend dangerous suspects.
Crisco said the initiative would establish an important tool to help residents assist law enforcement personnel working to apprehend dangerous suspects.
With
enactment, Connecticut would join at least 15 other states that already
have Blue Alert laws, including California, Colorado, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Crisco said comparable legislation is also pending in several other states.
“The
recent episode in Boston, after the tragic Patriot’s Day bombing,
underscores how helpful the public can be in identifying suspected
criminals,” Crisco said.
“This Blue Alert system would function the same way the state’s existing Amber and Silver Alert systems already do, for missing children and senior citizens, respectively.”
“This Blue Alert system would function the same way the state’s existing Amber and Silver Alert systems already do, for missing children and senior citizens, respectively.”
A
Blue Alert would notify the public of possible danger after a law
enforcement officer has been killed, seriously injured, or missing, and a
suspect, considered an
imminent threat, is at large, Crisco explained.
Further, it would solicit the public's assistance in apprehending the suspect by providing identifying features of the suspect, such as license plate information or his or her last known whereabouts.
Further, it would solicit the public's assistance in apprehending the suspect by providing identifying features of the suspect, such as license plate information or his or her last known whereabouts.
“Just last month members of the public played an important role in helping bring into custody an armed and dangerous suspect,” Crisco said.
“This bill, should it become law, would put one more public safety tool at the disposal of those with the solemn responsibility for providing public safety.”
“This bill, should it become law, would put one more public safety tool at the disposal of those with the solemn responsibility for providing public safety.”
Crisco
said the state Department of Emergency Services and Public
Protection will develop and implement policies and procedures for
operating and administering the system, including procedures governing
requests by law enforcement agencies to activate the system,
guidelines to ensure that the dissemination of information does not
compromise the investigation, or violate the privacy of the peace
officer who is the subject of the alert.
Tuesday’s Senate vote represents final legislation action on the measure.
House Bill 6007 now advances to the governor’s desk for his consideration and potential signature.
This post is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.
This post is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.
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