FACTRAGE – A Blue Alert is a public safety notification issued when a law enforcement officer has been killed or seriously injured and a dangerous suspect remains at large.

• Specific Trigger – Blue Alerts are only activated after a law enforcement officer is killed or seriously injured, and authorities have a viable description of the suspect or their vehicle.
• Public Mobilization – The system uses the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and other methods to broadcast information, asking the public to report sightings of the suspect or vehicle.
• National Network – The National Blue Alert Network was established by federal law in 2015 to create a voluntary nationwide system, though individual state participation and criteria may vary.

Following a recent, widely publicized Blue Alert in Texas for a suspect named Benjamin Song, many are encountering the term for the first time. Understanding its specific purpose is key to its effectiveness.

What Are the Exact Criteria for a Blue Alert?

While the public is familiar with Amber Alerts for missing children, the criteria for a Blue Alert are distinctly different and more narrowly focused. For a Blue Alert to be issued, several strict conditions must typically be met, according to guidelines from the U.S. Department of Justice.

First, a law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Second, the investigating agency must determine that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel. Finally, there must be a detailed and usable description of the suspect, their vehicle, or their vehicle’s license plate to broadcast to the public. The alert is only issued after the law enforcement agency responsible for the investigation formally requests it.

Though the National Blue Alert Act encourages a unified system, individual states manage their own programs. This can lead to minor variations in criteria from state to state, but the core principles remain consistent.

How Does a Blue Alert Differ From Amber or Silver Alerts?

Emergency alerts on phones and highway signs serve different critical functions, distinguished by the nature of the emergency. The key question many have is how to tell them apart. The answer lies in who is in danger or being sought.

• Blue Alert: Seeks a suspect who has killed or seriously wounded a law enforcement officer. The focus is on apprehending a dangerous individual.
• Amber Alert: Seeks a child who has been abducted and is believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. The focus is on child rescue.
• Silver Alert: Seeks a missing person, often an elderly individual with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive impairments. The focus is on finding a vulnerable person.

While all three use similar technology like the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to reach a wide audience quickly, their specific missions are entirely separate.

How Widespread and Effective Is the System?

The push for a nationwide system was formalized with the National Blue Alert Act of 2015. This federal law established a voluntary national network coordinated by the Department of Justice’s COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Office. The goal is to provide a seamless system to rapidly disseminate information about violent offenders who target law enforcement, preventing them from fleeing across state lines and committing more acts of violence.

As of 2025, more than three dozen states have established Blue Alert systems, creating a significant, though not yet complete, national network. The effectiveness of the system hinges on public awareness and participation. When an alert, like the recent one in Texas for Benjamin Song, is issued, it appears on mobile devices, digital highway signs, and in television and radio broadcasts. Citizens are not asked to intervene, but to be vigilant and immediately report any sightings of the suspect or vehicle to 911.