NAPO Washington Reports

National Blue Alert Act of 2013

September 10, 2013

NAPO continues efforts to garner as much support as possible for the National Blue Alert Act of 2013 before the Senate Judiciary Committee marks up the legislation on Thursday, September 12, 2013.  To supplement meetings with key staffers for members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, NAPO has joined fellow law enforcement organizations in sending a letter of support for the bill to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership (Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Grassley).

The bipartisan National Blue Alert Act of 2013, authored by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), directs the Department of Justice to establish a national communications network to quickly broadcast information to law enforcement agencies nationwide when an officer is injured or killed in the line of duty.  The measure, coauthored by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and cosponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and 13 other senators, would assist in the apprehension of someone suspected of seriously injuring or killing a law enforcement officer who crosses from one law enforcement jurisdiction to another. 

In August 2013, Senator Cardin noted:  “The brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect the public as law enforcement officers deserve every resource at their disposal, including the seamless dissemination to the public and others who could assist in the apprehension of violent criminals…. I thank Chairman Leahy for making it a priority to protect those who make sacrifices to protect all of us.”

NAPO has made the passage of the National Blue Alert Act of 2013 a top legislative priority, and will continue to advocate for the passage of this important piece of legislation.  NAPO will provide our members with an update on the status of this legislation after the Judiciary Committee meets on Thursday.  If you have any questions about this bill, please contact Melissa Nee at:  mnee@napo.org.

Source:

United States. Cong. Senate. Senate Judiciary Committee. SJC To Consider National Blue Alert Act In September. By
               Patrick Leahy and Ben Cardin. 113th Cong. S. Bill. Print.