N.Y. Executive Law § 837-w*2: Blue alert system

* § 837-w. Blue alert system. 1. There is established within the

division a blue alert system to aid in the identification, location and

apprehension of any individual or individuals suspected of killing or

seriously wounding any police officer.

2. For the purposes of this section:

(a) The term "blue alert" shall mean information sent through the blue

alert system related to:

(i) the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer in the

line of duty;

(ii) an officer who is missing in connection with the officer's

official duties; or

(iii) an imminent and credible threat that an individual intends to

cause the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer.

(b) The term "law enforcement agency having jurisdiction" shall mean

the chief law enforcement officer of the village, town, city, county, or

the division of state police that is investigating an offense

necessitating the use of a blue alert.

(c) The term "law enforcement officer" shall mean a state or local

police officer.

3. Upon the request of a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction,

the division shall issue a blue alert when public dissemination of

available information may help avert further harm or accelerate

apprehension of the suspect. Such blue alert may be disseminated on a

regional or statewide basis. Nothing in this section shall require a law

enforcement agency having jurisdiction to request a blue alert in any

circumstance described in paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this

section or to participate in the dissemination of information under the

blue alert system.

4. The division shall coordinate with the department of

transportation, the division of state police, and police agencies, and

may also coordinate with public commercial television and radio

broadcaster organizations, to effectuate notifications under the blue

alert system. Information disseminated pursuant to a blue alert may

include, but shall not be limited to, a detailed description of the

suspect's vehicle or license plate number and the name of the law

enforcement agency that requested the alert.

5. The division may coordinate with additional state agencies capable

of providing urgent and timely information to the public, together with

television and radio broadcasters and other private entities, where

appropriate, and if authorized and under conditions permitted by the

federal government, that consent to participate in the dissemination of

urgent public information.

6. The division shall develop criteria and procedures for activation

of the blue alert system, and shall regularly review the function of the

blue alert system and revise its criteria and procedures to provide for

efficient and effective public notifications.

7. The provisions of this section shall only apply in the event that

the division has been designated to use the federally authorized

Emergency Alert System for the issuance of blue alerts.

8. The division is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and

regulations for the implementation of the blue alert system pursuant to

this section.

* NB There are 2 § 837-w's