(a) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall establish an emergency alert system to assist law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of persons suspected of killing or seriously injuring peace officers or in the location of missing peace officers. The department shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the operation and administration of the system including, but not limited to, procedures for a law enforcement agency to request activation of the system and guidelines to ensure that the dissemination of information will not compromise the investigation of the offense or disappearance or violate the privacy of the peace officer who is the subject of the alert or of the officer's next-of-kin.

(b) The department may activate the system and issue an alert only if it determines, after consultation with the law enforcement agency requesting such activation, that:

(1) A peace officer: (A) Has been assaulted by another person resulting in such officer's death or serious physical injury or has been assaulted by another person with a deadly weapon, and the person suspected of such assault (i) has not been apprehended, and (ii) poses an imminent threat to the public or other peace officers, or (B) is missing while in the performance of such officer's duties under circumstances warranting concern for such officer's safety;

(2) Sufficient descriptive information is available to disseminate to the public concerning (A) the suspect or the suspect's vehicle or other means of escape, or (B) the circumstances of the peace officer's disappearance; and

(3) Dissemination of such information to the public could assist in apprehending the suspect, locating the missing peace officer or averting injury to any other person.

(c) As used in this section, “peace officer”, “serious physical injury” and “deadly weapon” have the same meanings as provided in section 53a-3.

(P.A. 13-24, S. 1.)