Cape police chief, local lawmakers back 'Blue Alert' system

Cape Girardeau's police chief and local Republican lawmakers support Missouri Governor-elect Eric Greitens' push to establish a "Blue Alert" emergency system to aid law enforcement.

The system would be used in efforts to apprehend people who injure or kill police officers.

Chief Wes Blair, who also serves as vice president of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, said it would be a good tool for law enforcement and aid in protecting the public.

"It just will heighten people's awareness," he said, adding it would lead to "more eyes" on the lookout for such assailants.

"It also enhances the safety of the public," Blair said, adding anyone who shoots a law-enforcement officer also poses a danger to the public.

Sen. Wayne Wallingford

State Sen. Wayne Wallingford and state Rep. Kathy Swan, both of Cape Girardeau, and state Rep. Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson said they favor such a system.

"Anything that is going to help law enforcement, I am all over that," Lichtenegger said.

Swan said she expects legislative efforts to aid law enforcement will be a "focus" of the new Republican governor.

Patterned after the Amber Alert system used in efforts to locate missing children, a "Blue Alert" would be disseminated statewide and include information describing the suspect and the vehicle he or she was driving at the time of the attack.

Blair said Amber Alerts are displayed on people's cellphones.

Rep. Donna Lichtenegger

"It gets your attention," he said, adding a "Blue Alert" also would draw the public's attention.

Greitens announced Monday he plans to work with the Missouri Legislature to establish such an emergency-alert system. Twenty-seven other states have such a system.

Greitens' announcement came a day after police officers in St. Louis and the Kansas City area were injured in shootings.

Both officers are expected to survive.

The suspect in the Kansas City area was killed during a struggle with the officer. The suspect in the St. Louis shooting was killed hours later in a shootout with police.

The Amber Alert system in Missouri was created by state law in 2003. The system is a partnership among law enforcement, transportation agencies and media.

Missouri also has a Silver Alert system, but it is voluntary and not spelled out in state law. Silver alerts deal with older residents who are reported missing.

Wallingford said he introduced a measure in the last legislative session to establish a Silver Alert system formally. The measure failed to win passage, but he said he plans to introduce it again this year.

The senator said he welcomes the idea of an alert system in case of serious assaults on police officers. He said the notification system already is in place with Amber Alerts.

"It is not going to be expensive at all," Wallingford said.

He suggested such alerts could help in catching the assailants.

"It speeds up the process," he said.

Wallingford, Lichtenegger and Swan said the Legislature also should consider enacting stiffer penalties for those who injure or kill police officers.

Lichtenegger said she believes anyone convicted of killing a police officer should face the death penalty.

Wallingford and Swan did not suggest any specific penalties.

Swan opposes the death penalty on the basis of her pro-life beliefs. She unsuccessfully sought to repeal the state's death penalty earlier this year.

She said last winter there is no justification for the death penalty, regardless of how horrific the crime.

Even if lawmakers pass legislation to aid law enforcement, Swan said, "there is not a short-term, easy fix" to address the violence.

Lichtenegger said the public needs to cooperate with law enforcement, and judges need to hand down stiffer sentences to stem the violence from "thugs."

She decried what she sees as a "culture" of violence in St. Louis and elsewhere that has put law-enforcement officers at greater risk.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641