Proposed 'Blue Alert' system could be useful

Law enforcement officers are under assault, being targeted throughout the nation. This hit home in our own state recently when St. Louis and Kansas City officers were injured in shootings. The next day, Governor-elect Eric Greitens announced he plans to work with the Missouri Legislature to establish an Amber Alert-type system to inform the public when someone has injured or killed a police officer.

The system, coined "Blue Alert," has been championed by lawmakers, such as State Senator Wayne Wallingford, of Cape Girardeau, and state Representatives Kathy Swan (Cape Girardeau) and Donna Lichtenegger (Jackson). Cape Girardeau police chief Wes Blair also backs the proposal and hailed it as "a good tool for law enforcement and aid in protecting the public," as the Southeast Missourian reported.

We, too, are in favor of efforts to protect those who have taken an oath "to serve and protect" us. The Amber Alert, which most are familiar with, is displayed on people's cell phones. Likewise, the Blue Alert would be dispersed throughout the state and include a description of both the suspect and the vehicle he or she was driving.

Officers generally do a good job in an increasingly demanding and dangerous profession. We expect much of them, but there's no way they can be expected to see and hear everything, and sometimes, criminals take shots at them -- literally. Blue Alert equips the rest of us to be eyes and ears and help make sure those people are apprehended. This could be a lifesaver, because anyone who has no qualms about harming police officers, has no qualms about harming the public also.

Wallingford noted that the system is "not expensive at all" and that "it speeds up the process" of apprehending attackers.

We support the officers who serve our community, so we join the community leaders who support Blue Alert.