A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Blue Alert Act".
B. As used in this act, "law enforcement officer" means any duly appointed person who is charged with the responsibility of maintaining public order, safety and health by the enforcement of all laws, ordinances or orders of this state or any of its political subdivisions and who is authorized to bear arms in execution of his or her responsibilities including reserve force deputies, reserve municipal police officers and tribal law enforcement officers who are commissioned pursuant to an agreement authorized by Section 1221 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. The Department of Public Safety shall develop and implement a statewide blue alert system. The statewide blue alert system shall be designed to rapidly disseminate useful information in a predetermined manner to statewide media outlets.
D. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall be the statewide coordinator of the blue alert system. The Commissioner shall adopt rules and issue directives as necessary to ensure proper implementation of the alert. An Oklahoma Blue Alert shall be activated only in accordance with policies established by the Department of Public Safety and if all of the following conditions apply:
1. A law enforcement officer has been killed or seriously injured and the law enforcement agency investigating the incident has information identifying an individual as a suspect connected to the incident;
2. The law enforcement agency that is investigating the suspect determines that the suspect poses a serious risk or threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel;
3. The law enforcement agency investigating the suspect has obtained either:
a.the name of the suspect,
b.a detailed physical description of the suspect, or
c.a description of the vehicle of the suspect, vehicle registration plate numbers or letters or partial vehicle registration plate numbers or letters; and
4. The law enforcement agency investigating the suspect recommends that the Department of Public Safety activate the Blue Alert.
E. The Commissioner may notify authorities and entities outside the State of Oklahoma upon verification that the criteria established under this section have been met.
F. The Commissioner shall annually review the function of the blue alert system and revise its criteria and procedures to provide for efficient and effective statewide public notification.
Added by Laws 2016, c. 200, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016.
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