Sheriff's Department Encourages Residents To Sign Up For Blue Alert Warning System

Today the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department issued a press statement encouraging residents to sign up for the Blue Alert notification system.

A Blue Alert is issued to the public when a law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers serious bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect has fled the scene of the offense, according to the press statement.

Blue Alerts are intended to not only alert the public about dangerous or violent suspects who pose a threat to public safety, but also to solicit the public's assistance in the apprehension of the suspect, the statement read.

The Blue Alert system was enacted into California law with the passage of Senate Bill 839, which adds Section 8594.5 to the Government Code. According to the press statement, the California Highway Patrol administers the system and is responsible for issuing Blue Alerts when all of the following conditions are met:

• A law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers serious bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect has fled the scene of the offense.
• A law enforcement agency investigating the offense has determined that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel.
• A detailed description of the suspect’s vehicle or license plate is available for broadcast.
• Alerting the public may help avert further harm or speed the apprehension of the suspect.

To sign up for Blue Alerts via email or mobile, click here.