Senator Mitch McConnell announces creation of National ‘Blue Alert’ system aimed at protecting law enforcement

Blue AlertWASHINGTON, DC – Forty six police officers have been killed in the line of duty this year, many of which were murdered in the wake of protests and anti-police rhetoric spreading across the U.S. including New York City Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.

In an effort to help catch those who threaten, harm or kill law enforcement officers, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement today saying the President will sign the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 into law.

Senator McConnell co-sponsored the bill establishing a national “Blue Alert” system within the U.S. Department of Justice which creates a nationwide system similar to what the Amber Alert system does for abducted children.

Should law enforcement officers be killed, seriously injured, threatened, or go missing while in the line of duty, this system would be utilized to widely disseminate information to help identify and apprehend potential suspects.

“I was proud to cosponsor the Blue Alert Act and pleased the President signed it into law today. The Blue Alert will help bring to justice those who harm or threaten our police officers, and hopefully help deter future violence. Kentucky law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to defend us and this law will help protect those who put their lives on the line for us every day. I was honored to support it and help push for its passage on behalf of the thousands of brave Kentucky law enforcement officers,” Senator McConnell said.