[EAS] Blue Alerts Are Back

[Phil Johnson]

I'd like to step away from the minutiae of Event Codes, message formatting,
ENDEC configuration, etc., and return to the basic issue of Blue Alerts.

1.  AMBER Alerts are meant to save the lives of children, and time is always
of the essence. 

2. The stated purpose of Blue Alerts is to "help [provide] Law Enforcement
the means to speed the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or
seriously injure local, state, or federal law enforcement officers."

3.  Blue Alerts do not warn of imminent danger to the public and therefore
have no place in the Emergency Alert System.  They do not merit an EAS Alert
event code - LEW or anything else (and I say this is as the father of a
15-year Seattle Police Officer).

4.  Washington State publicizes Blue Alerts through the news media and other
means, but without using EAS (anybody out there believe the media won't
immediately be all over an attack on a cop?).  And that's the way it should
be.  EAS is a public WARNING tool, not a public INFORMATION vehicle.

Phil Johnson
Chair, Central Puget Sound LECC
Member, Washington SECC