Blue Alerts aim to help find law enforcement killers

 McALLEN - Gov. Rick Perry signed off on a new program this past week that aims to help law enforcement departments across the state find criminals accused of seriously injuring or killing officers in the line of duty.

Dubbed the "Blue Alert" system, the program is similar to the Amber Alert and Silver Alert programs introduced in recent years. Although those programs try to locate lost children or senior citizens, Blue Alerts will be called out whenever a peace officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty while the criminal is still on the run.

"The Blue Alert Program will be a powerful tool that leverages the eyes and ears of many toward the apprehension of criminals who threaten our protectors," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement Monday.

But not any minor assault against a police officer warrants a Blue Alert. A local law enforcement agency needs to meet four criteria to activate the program.

The program also coordinates with the Governor's Division of Emergency Management and Texas Department of Public Safety to relay information statewide to local media outlets and government officials. And information during an alert would be displayed on highway message signs normally used to project traffic and severe weather bulletins.

Cathy Hill's husband, Barry, was a Harris County Sheriff's deputy shot to death in 2000. His killer, Robert Will, sits on death row. After he shot the deputy, Will took off in a stolen car, where he was eventually captured by an officer who had heard about the shooting on the radio, Hill said.

"I believe it will be a nationwide thing," she told The Associated Press. "It will catch on."

Law enforcement leaders in Hidalgo County applauded the program.

Sheriff Lupe Treviño said police officers are held to a higher standard than the general public. With that, extra emphasis needs to be placed on finding the suspect who seriously harmed or killed an officer.

"As police officers, we represent society's law and order - and we're given that power by the people," he said. "When (criminals) assault us, they're assaulting all of society."

In Mission, Police Chief Leo Longoria said any new program that could help solve crimes - especially against law enforcement - is a positive step.

"It's a wise use of those resources we have that we haven't had in the past," he said of the program. "Hopefully we'll never use it."

AT A GLANCE

To activate a Blue Alert:

>> A law enforcement officer must be killed or seriously injured by an offender.

>> The investigating law enforcement agency determines the offender poses a serious risk or threat to the public or other officers.

>> A detailed description of the criminal's vehicle, vehicle tag or partial tag must be available for broadcast to the public.

>> The investigating law enforcement agency or jurisdiction submits a Blue Alert request to the Governor's Division of Emergency Management.