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Gov. Malloy Creates 'Blue Alert' For At-Large Cop Killers

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Gov. Dannel Malloy signed into law a new alert system on Wednesday known as a "Blue Alert." The alert will notify the public when a law enforcement officer has been killed, seriously injured or missing, and when a suspect who is considered an imminent threat is at large, according to a release.

“The Blue Alert System will be an effective tool for the safety of the public, particularly when it comes to notifying both residents and local law enforcement agencies with the urgent information they need to know should ever we face this unfortunate type of crisis,” Malloy said in the statement.  “As we saw just last month in Massachusetts, public notification played a significant role in assisting law enforcement in apprehending a suspect who harmed a police officer and a number of others. This system will complement our existing Amber and Silver notifications and will put into practice a new, formal statewide communications system for this type of emergency.”

The system will take effect Oct. 1, according to the release.

Currently, at least 15 states have Blue Alert laws, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

As required under the bill, the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection will develop and implement policies and procedures for operating and administering the system, according to the release.

This includes procedures governing requests by law enforcement agencies to activate the system and guidelines to ensure that the dissemination of information does not compromise the investigation of the offense or disappearance, or violate the privacy of the law enforcement officer who is the subject of the alert or of the officer’s next-of-kin.

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