§2222. Blue Alert Program

1.  Blue Alert Program.  In accordance with this chapter and with the cooperation of the Department of Transportation, the Maine Turnpike Authority, a statewide organization representing broadcast groups in the State, the Office of the Governor and appropriate law enforcement agencies, the department shall develop and implement the Blue Alert Program as provided in subsection 2.

[PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).]

2.  Program elements.  The Blue Alert Program must be developed and implemented using existing resources and activated when, in the line of duty, a law enforcement officer has been killed or injured or is missing, there is sufficient information available regarding the law enforcement officer's last known location or physical description of an offender or vehicle involved and the department determines that a public notification may aid in:

A. Apprehending a suspected offender who poses an imminent threat to the public or to law enforcement personnel; or   [PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).]

B. Locating a missing law enforcement officer.   [PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).]

[PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).]

3.  Standards of procedure.  The Blue Alert Program must include standards of procedure for local law enforcement agencies to determine that a condition under subsection 2 exists to notify the department to activate a Blue Alert, a plan for providing relevant information to the public through an existing system of dynamic message signs located across the State when necessary and training for all law enforcement officers.

[PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).]

4.  Rules.  The department may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

[PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2015, c. 26, §1 (NEW).