As law enforcement searches for a suspect accused of shooting a Burleson police officer multiple times Wednesday, millions of Texans may be notified on their phone to be on the lookout with a Blue Alert.
The Blue Alert was launched in Texas in 2008 when then-governor Rick Perry signed Executive Order RP-68.
It was created to let residents across the state know when an offender who killed or seriously injured a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer in the line of duty is on the run.
According to DPS, four criteria must be met to issue the alert:
- A law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured by an offender.
- The investigating law enforcement agency must determine that the offender poses a serious risk or threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel.
- A detailed description of the offender’s vehicle, vehicle tag, or partial tag must be available for broadcast to the public.
- The investigating law enforcement agency of jurisdiction must recommend the activation of the Blue Alert to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Texas is one of the 34 states that currently have the system in place.
Wednesday’s alert was an effort to locate 39-year-old Jerry Elders, who is described as a 5’11” white man with brown hair and blue eyes, weighing approximately 165 pounds.
He was last seen in Johnson County in a silver 2014 Toyota Tacoma truck with license DKB6819.
Anyone who sees him or has information should call Burleson Police Department at 817-426-9903.
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