[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8064-S8065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Leahy):
  S. 3972. A bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans 
throughout the United States in order to disseminate information when a 
law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of 
duty; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the National 
Blue Alert Act of 2010.
  Having just concluded Crime Prevention month it is important to 
remember our law enforcement officers that put their lives on the line 
every day. There are more than 900,000 police officers in the United 
States dedicated to stopping crime and making our communities safer. 
Every day they go out onto the streets, and unfortunately become 
targets for criminals who have no regard for law and order.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 
officer deaths have surged by 43 percent in the first half of 2010. 
Eighty-seven officers died in the line of duty between January 1 and 
June 30 of this year. If this rate continues, 2010 could become one of 
the deadliest years for U.S. law enforcement in two decades. We need to 
make sure our officers have all the tools they need to protect 
themselves and each other.
  This is why I, along with Senator Graham and Senator Leahy, am 
introducing the National Blue Alert Act in an effort to provide law 
enforcement with an additional tool in fighting crime. The Blue Alert 
system is intended to provide rapid dissemination of information about 
such offenders to help facilitate capture of violent offenders and 
reduce the risk those offenders cause to our communities and law 
enforcement officers. The National Blue Alert will encourage, enhance 
and integrate blue alert plans throughout the United States in order to 
effectively disseminate information notifying law enforcement, media 
and the public that a suspect is wanted.
  Currently there is no national alert system that provides immediate 
information to other law enforcement agencies, the media or the public 
at large. Many states have created a state blue alert system in an 
effort to better inform their local communities. For example, after the 
unfortunate murder of Maryland State Trooper Wesley Brown, Maryland 
Governor O'Malley immediately signed an executive order establishing 
the Maryland blue alert system. But Maryland is not alone. Florida was 
the first state to implement the alert system in 2008. They were 
followed by Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Delaware.
  My bill creates a national blue alert program within the Department 
of Justice. Currently, under the COPS technology program, Congress 
authorizes funds for the continued development of technologies and 
automated systems that help tribal, state and local law enforcement 
agencies prevent, respond to, and investigate crime. My bill authorizes 
$10 million out of this program to be appropriated for the creation of 
blue alert plans throughout the United States. This new technology will 
provide police officers and other emergency units with the ability to 
react quickly to apprehend violent offenders.
  Based on the success of the AMBER Alert and the SILVER Alert, I 
believe this BLUE Alert will be equally successful in helping to 
apprehend criminal suspects who have injured or killed our law 
enforcement officers. This legislation has received the support of the 
Fraternal Order of Police and the Concerns of Police Survivors National 
Office. The Blue Alert will provide a valuable tool to our law 
enforcement officials. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.

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