SHERIDAN: "NEVER WANTS" TO USE 'BLUE ALERT' AGAIN ...
Friday June 25th 2010 11:25 AM
Friday, June 25, 2010 - Robert Lang
There's the Amber Alert for missing children, the Silver Alert for missing seniors, and now there is a Blue Alert that police can issue for violent suspects wanted by police.
The alerts will be used for suspects wanted for killing or injuring law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
Governor Martin O'Malley this morning signed an executive order to establish the program.
It was supposed to start in October, thanks to legislation approved this year, but the governor today signed the order making the program start immediately.
Police will use electronic highway road signs, the web, text messages and radio and television bulletins to issue the alerts.
The order was signed exactly two weeks after Trooper First Class Wesley Brown was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Prince George's County.
State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan told WBAL News Brown's killing encouraged the governor to sign the order and start the program now.
Sheridan noted the suspects wanted for Brown's killing were apprehended a few days after the killing. He hopes it is never needed.
"I never want to use it. It's a devastating effect losing a law enforcement officer that represents our citizens," Sheridan said.
"You're not killing a human being, you're taking a shot at all of us."
Sheridan does think that the program will be valuable in apprehending suspects and the public will use it.
www.wbal.com/
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/lrs