Florida Law Enforcement Blue Alert Procedures PDF

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 4.34 FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT BLUE ALERT A. General The Blue Alert system is in response to the increasing number of law enforcement...

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 4.34 FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT BLUE ALERT A. General The Blue Alert system is in response to the increasing number of law enforcement officers in the state who were killed, seriously injured, or missing as a result of actions taken in the line of duty. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will activate the Florida Law Enforcement Blue Alert System when the criteria for activation have been met B. Purpose The purpose of the Florida Law Enforcement Blue Alert System is to broadcast important information about a law enforcement officer who has been killed, has suffered serious bodily injury, has been assaulted with a deadly weapon, or is missing while taking action in the line of duty and the suspect, who is considered to pose an imminent threat to the public, is still at large. The information will be broadcast through Dynamic Highway Message Signs and other appropriate notification methods to increase the chances of capturing the suspect(s) responsible for injuring or killing a law enforcement officer. C. Criteria for Activation: Pursuant to FS 784.071, to activate the Blue Alert, the following criteria must be met: 1. A law enforcement officer has been killed, has suffered serious bodily injury, or has been assaulted with a deadly weapon. 2. A law enforcement officer is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances evidencing concern for the law enforcement officer’s safety. 3. The suspect has fled the scene of the offense. 4. The law enforcement agency investigating the offense determines that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or to other law enforcement officers. 5. A detailed description of the suspect’s vehicle, other means of escape, or the license plate of the suspect’s vehicle is available for broadcasting. Reviewed: 04/06/2022 Revised: 11/21/2022 Rescinds: 03/20/2012 Effective: 01/06/2023 4.34 Page 1 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 6. Dissemination of available information to the public may help avert further harm or assist in the apprehension of the suspect. 7. If the law enforcement officer is missing, there is sufficient information available relating to the officer’s last known location and physical description, and the description of any vehicle involved, including the license plate number or other identifying information, to be broadcast to the public and other law enforcement agencies, which could assist in locating the missing law enforcement officer. 8. The Blue Alert shall be immediately disseminated to the public through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) by broadcasting the alert on television, radio, and the Dynamic Message Signs that are located along the state’s highways. D. Steps for Activation 1. Deputies will contact their supervisor to determine if the criteria are met for Blue Alert Activation. The supervisor will immediately contact the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Unit supervisor for follow-up. 2. If the investigation is being conducted jointly with other jurisdictions, notification will be made to the Operations Chief of the designated Incident Command Post/Center. 3. The Sheriff or designee will call the FDLE Watch desk and provide the necessary information to verify that the activation criteria have been met. The FDLE Watch Desk will immediately contact the on-call Special Agent Supervisor (SAS) for the region to coordinate the activation of the Blue Alert with BSO and determine if the alert will be displayed regionally or statewide. 4. The FDLE (SAS) and BSO will contact the FDLE Watch Desk via conference call to provide the information for public release, including the suspect and/or vehicle information as well as agency contact information. 5. FDLE Watch Desk will contact the DHSMV, FHPs Orlando Regional Communication Center (ORCC) to disseminate the Blue Alert. ORCC will relay the information to other regional communication centers where the activation is to take place. 6. FDLE will contact FDOT’s Orlando Regional Transportation Management Reviewed: 04/06/2022 Revised: 11/21/2022 Rescinds: 03/20/2012 Effective: 01/06/2023 4.34 Page 2 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Center to provide the message content using the FDOT-approved Blue Alert template which includes vehicle information, tag number, and other identifiers. 7. FDLE Watch Desk will facilitate the broadcasting of the alert to the public via television and radio through the EAS. FDOT will display the alert on Dynamic Highway Message Signs on all requested highways unless a traffic emergency occurs, which requires a motorist safety message to be displayed. FDOT also will record a Blue Alert message on the 511 system when the Blue Alert is activated. 8. The same activation steps will be used if there is revised vehicle information, or a broadcast area is changed. 9. If the suspect is captured or in custody, a Homicide Unit supervisor will notify the FDLE Watch Desk as soon as reasonably possible. FDLE will then contact the appropriate parties to cancel the Blue Alert. E. Deactivation of the Blue Alert 1. The Criminal Investigations Division Commander or designee will coordinate with the designated incident commander to evaluate the need to continue or deactivate the Blue Alert based upon verified circumstances. 2. An agreement to deactivate the Blue Alert will be made after the law enforcement officer has been recovered, the suspect is captured or in custody, or there is no longer an imminent and credible threat. 3. The sheriff or designee will call the FDLE Watch desk and provide the necessary information to deactivate the Blue Alert. 4. The FDLE Watch Desk will contact DHSMV and FHPs Orlando Regional Communication Center to request to deactivate the Blue Alert. 5. FDLE will contact FDOTs Orlando Regional Transportation Management Center and request to deactivate the Blue Alert. 6. The FDLE Watch Desk will cancel the broadcasting of the alert to the public via television and radio through the EAS. FDOT will discontinue displaying the alert on Dynamic Highway Message Signs on all Reviewed: 04/06/2022 Revised: 11/21/2022 Rescinds: 03/20/2012 Effective: 01/06/2023 4.34 Page 3 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES requested highways. FDOT also will discontinue recording a Blue Alert message on the 511 system. F. Resources 1. FDLE Watch Desk Numbers: 850-410-7645 or 1-800-342-0820 2. FHP Communications Center Shift Commander, Orlando: 407-737-2200 3. FDOT Orlando Regional Transportation Management Center: 407-736-1900 Reviewed: 04/06/2022 Revised: 11/21/2022 Rescinds: 03/20/2012 Effective: 01/06/2023 4.34 Page 4 of 4