“Blue” Alerts could be coming soon to radio, TV

LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Legislators have approved a bill that would allow Michigan State Police to broadcast emergency alerts on TV and radio when violent criminals injure or kill law enforcement officers. The broadcast messages would be called Blue Alerts, and they would be similar in practice to AMBER Alerts, when children are abducted, and Silver Alerts, when the elderly or people with mental disabilities turn up missing. Fiscal analysts say it would cost Michigan State Police around $20,000 to develop the system and another $300 per month to operate it. 26 states have passed similar legislation. The bill passed 37-0 in the Senate earlier this week.