Missouri Blue Alert

What Is Blue Alert?

Blue Alerts provide for rapid dissemination of information to law enforcement agencies, media, and the public about violent offenders who have killed, seriously injured, or pose an imminent and credible threat to law enforcement. Blue Alerts can be transmitted via wireless devices and through the Emergency Alert System. The National Blue Alert Network works to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans throughout the United States.

Why Was Blue Alert Created?

The National Blue Alert Act was created in response to the ambush attack of New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were killed on December 20, 2014. In 2015, Congress passed the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans. In 2016, the Community Oriented Policing Services Office was asked to implement the Blue Alert Act and establish a National Blue Alert Network.

Blue Alert Criteria

For a Blue Alert to be forwarded for dissemination the following criteria must be met:

1. A law enforcement officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty; or
2. An officer is missing in connection with official duties; or
3. There is an imminent and credible threat to kill or seriously injure a law enforcement officer; and
4. There is actionable information known about a suspect for a public notification to be helpful to law enforcement; and
5. The law enforcement agency involved requests or approves the alert being issued.

Blue Alert Activation Process

1. An officer determines if an incident meets the criteria.
2. Fill out the request form “Blue” in MULES 5 or the paper request form which is located on the moalerts.mo.gov website or the CJIS Launch Pad and email moalert18@mshp.dps.mo.gov or fax (573) 751-8814 the Blue Alert form with the attachments such as photographs, area maps, etc., to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F Headquarters. Email is the preferred method to receive the forms.
3. Contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F Headquarters at (573) 751-1000 to verify the emailed or faxed forms and attachments have been received.
4. Make sure dispatchers or call takers are prepared to handle phone calls. Consider allocating additional resources from other law enforcement agencies.

Once the Alert Is Activated

• All Missouri law enforcement agencies are notified through a MIAC email alert.
• Broadcasters and media are notified.
• The public will receive a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) message on their cell phone.
• The Missouri Department of Transportation will be notified to activate message signs, if practicable.
• The Missouri Lottery will be notified to activate message signs, if practicable.

To View Active Missouri Blue Alerts

Visit www.moalerts.mo.gov to view any active Blue Alerts in Missouri. You can also sign up to receive a notification of an activation of a Blue Alert via email on the moalerts website. Click on “Subscribe to MO Alerts,” enter your email address and click “Subscribe.”

The Missouri Plan

The Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act established a voluntary nationwide system to give police an early warning of threats against police officers and to aid in the apprehension of suspects who have killed or seriously injured an officer.

Missouri entered the National Blue Alert Network in 2017.

The Cooperative Effort Of

• Missouri Department of Public Safety
• Missouri State Highway Patrol
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
• Missouri Department of Transportation
• Missouri Lottery
• Missouri Police Chiefs Association
• Missouri Sheriffs’ Association
• Missouri Broadcasters Association

Contact Information