Foundation, Inc. With the assistance and leadership of Executive Director Berry, the
Department has also met with law enforcement representatives from California, North
Carolina, Maine, and Texas, and a representative for COPSync, Inc. (COPSync, Inc. operates as a
real-time, law enforcement mobile data information system that provides software that will
allow patrol officers to collect, report, and share critical data in real time at the point of incident
and obtain instant access to various local, state, and federal law enforcement databases.)

These consultations have already provided key information on lessons learned, challenges
encountered, and recommended courses of action. In addition, the COPS Office made direct
outreach calls to each of the 56 states and territories. This includes the 27 states that
reportedly operate Blue Alert systems as well as those 29 states and territories that do not have
Blue Alert systems.”

The COPS Office’s outreach serves multiple purposes. First, it is enabling the
Department to identify and establish points of contact across the country for the Blue Alert Act.
These points of contact will be a critical resource for law enforcement and the general public as
no such resource currently exists. The lack of such a resource affects jurisdictions’ ability to
communicate within states and across the country.

This outreach has also enabled the Department to verify which states have Blue Alert
plans and the extent to which the plans comply with statutory guidelines. The COPS Office has
secured copies of state Blue Alert plans and related materials such as program overviews,
activation plans, legislation and brochures from 26 of the 27 states reported to have Blue Alert
plans.

Thus far, the Department has identified that a number of state plans contain the
following common core activation guidelines consistent with the Blue Alert Act:

* There has been a serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer in the line of
duty;

e An officer is missing in connection with the officer’s official duties;

« There is an imminent and credible threat that an individual intends to cause the
serious injury or death of a flaw enforcement officer;

e There is sufficient description information for dissemination; and

e There is an imminent and credible threat of public harm.

? See attached map of state Blue Alert plans



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officers and agencies.? The COPS Office will publish a dedicated article in its e-newsletter, the
Community Policing Dispatch, to describe Blue Alert development plans. The newsletter
reaches more than 7,000 law enforcement professionals and stakeholders. In addition, the
COPS Office will promote the Blue Alert Act with all of its active COPS Office grant recipients,
which consists of approximately 1,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

Vv. Fiscal Needs

There were no funds appropriated for implementation of the Blue Alert Act. The
Congressional Budget Office estimates annual implementation costs to be $1M once fully
operational (Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate, S. 665 Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu
National Blue Alert Act of 2015 (April 6, 2015)). Preliminary assessments—informed by
operational and technical assistance costs of the AMBER Alert system, which is administered by
the Department’s, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), its partner the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children, and its grantee Fox Valley Community College—support the
Congressional Budget Office’s estimation, although OJP estimated that the first two-year
implementation costs would be $3M per year to support policy development and
implementation costs, technical assistance, and AMBER Alert technology reconfiguration.

Similar to the AMBER Alert system costs, the COPS Office anticipates funds needed for the
Blue Alert Act will support development and assistance to the approximately 30 jurisdictions
that do not have Blue Alert plans as well as training, technical assistance, and coordination to
the states that do have Blue Alert plans. As detailed earlier, the COPS Office is working
diligently to implement the Blue Alert Act and to minimize any costs by aligning with existing
resources. The Department will continue to identify the specific needs for the Blue Alert Act
and the attenuated projected costs and will submit funding requests as appropriate.

v. Summary of Activities and Projected Next Steps
As detailed previously, the Department has engaged in the following activities:

e Designated the COPS Office Director as the National Blue Alert Act
Coordinator
«Established a Blue Alert Act COPS Office Team
o National Coordinator — Director Ronald L. Davis
o Deputy National Coordinator — Vince Davenport
o Senior Counsel — Shanetta Y. Cutlar
o Legal Advisor — Chau Miles

3 See attached flyer distributed at the 2016 |ACP Annual Conference



US. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Paul D. Ryan
Speaker

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



The COPS Office has also identified a number of plans that differ or are less
comprehensive. For example, COPS found that only about half of the plans received included
activation guidelines for situations when an officer is missing or kidnapped. The COPS Office
will continue to collect and assess information from the various state Blue Alert systems in
order to establish comprehensive guidelines and best practices for nationwide dissemination
and to inform technical assistance needs.

Notably, because the Blue Alert Act prohibits lobbying for the implementation of Blue
Alert, the COPS Office will make technical assistance and guidelines available to those states
without Blue Alert plans.

The COPS Office’s outreach is also enabling the Department to identify and address
challenges states face in establishing and implementing Blue Alert plans, beginning with the
lack of a comprehensive contact list for Blue Alert programs across the country. Even in states
with established Blue Alert plans, it is often difficult to readily identify important points of
contact necessary for alert activation or interstate coordination.

Other challenges identified thus far include the need to promote formal communication
mechanisms between law enforcement agencies for Blue Alert information, the need for a
dedicated Emergency Alert System (EAS) event code, and the need to increase public and law
enforcement awareness of the Blue Alert Act. The COPS Office is working to address these
challenges.

In a recent incident where two police officers were shot and wounded, the National
Blue Alert Network was activated to assist with coordination efforts between the affected state
and two neighboring states with separate and distinct Blue Alert plans and protocols. Prior to
the incident, the COPS Office Blue Alert team had already compiled a complete contact list of all
state Blue Alert coordinators which facilitated immediate outreach to the affected state and
neighboring states with Blue Alert plans.

The outreach efforts by the National Blue Alert Network helped to ensure that there
was direct coordination between several existing state Blue Alert plans in order to facilitate
rapid dissemination of information about the incident and the wanted suspect. This is but one
example of the many outreach protocols that will be employed by the National Blue Alert
Network whenever Blue Alerts are issued throughout the United States or Territories.

D. Outreach and Partnership with Key Stakeholders. The COPS Office has reached out to
several key stakeholders to assist in developing and implementing a national Blue Alert Act
strategy, including the following:



Attachments:

e United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch’s Designation of the National Blue
Alert Coordinator

e State Map of Blue Alert plans

e Blue Alert flyer

e Blue Alert web page screen image

12



The COPS Office has consulted with NLETS Deputy Executive Director Frank Minice
regarding the use of NLETS for Blue Alert purposes and for the creation of a standardized Blue
Alert Protocol. The COPS Office believes that NLETS is uniquely positioned to support Blue Alert
and has the support of NLETS to continue to work together.

Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP). LEEP is operated by the FBI Criminal Justice
Information Systems Division. It is an electronic gateway that provides law enforcement

agencies, intelligence partners, and criminal justice entities with centralized access to many
different resources and services via a single sign-on. The COPS Office would use LEEP to create
and curate a controlled access Special Interest Group (SIG) to store and share sensitive
information with law enforcement personnel. The COPS Office has consulted with LEEP staff
concerning the creation of a Blue Alert SIG and will meet to begin SIG development.

The COPS Office will be working with each of these key stakeholders individually and
collectively as we develop our national strategy for the Blue Alert Act.

E. Cooperation with Other Federal Agencies. The Act requires the Coordinator to
cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, the
Federal Communications Commission, and other DOJ offices as appropriate.

The COPS Office has established a point of contact with each of the identified federal
agencies and the FBI. This will further facilitate the successful implementation of the Blue Alert
Act. For example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversees the national
Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is used for AMBER Alerts. They establish the technical
standards, activation procedures, and testing protocols as well as approve all the state plans.
This system will align with the implementation of the Blue Alert Act. The Department will work
with these points of contact for ongoing advice and consultation to the COPS Office and the
Advisory Group.

F. Promotion of the Blue Alert Act. Notably, the Blue Alert statute prohibits the
Coordinator from conducting any official travel or hosting a conference for the sole purpose of
implementing the Blue Alert Act. These restrictions have not, however, prevented the COPS
Office from promoting the Blue Alert Act, and the Department has undertaken a number of
measures to raise awareness of the Blue Alert Act. Specifically, the COPS Office is building a
dedicated web page on the DOJ website that will identify Blue Alert resources and will include

points of contact and other resources for states, the community, and law enforcement. The
Department will also promote awareness of the Blue Alert Act at national police and law
enforcement conferences, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP),
Major Cities Chiefs, and the National Sheriff's Association. These conferences provide the
potential outreach to promote the Blue Alert Act to tens of thousands of law enforcement

j



The COPS Office has been working diligently to implement the Blue Alert Act and reports
the following activities:

A. Designation of a Blue Alert Coordinator. The Blue Alert Act requires the Attorney
General to assign an existing officer of the Department to act as the National Coordinator. The
Coordinator is to serve as the nationwide point of contact for the development of a network
and regional coordination of Blue Alerts.

In September 2016, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch designated the Director of the COPS
Office to serve as the National Blue Alert Coordinator.’ COPS Office Director Ronald L. Davis
has now assumed this responsibility. Director Davis has in turn named Vince Davenport of the
COPS Office, who has significant prior law enforcement experience, as the Deputy National Blue
Alert Coordinator.

B. Establish an Advisory Group. Pursuant to the Blue Alert Act, the Coordinator is required
to establish an Advisory Group to assist states, local governments, and other involved entities
with initiating, facilitating, and promoting Blue Alert plans. The statute requires the group to
have geographically diverse representation and include the following representatives:

e A law enforcement organization representing rank-and-file officers

¢ Other law enforcement agencies and public safety communications

e Broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, and radio station personnel

© Other individuals and organizations the Coordinator determines are necessary for
the success of the network.

The COPS Office has established an Advisory Group that satisfies each of the statutory
requirements. The members are as follows:

e James Pasco, Executive Director, Fraternal Order of Police

e Craig Floyd, President and CEO, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

e Vince Talucci (or designee), International Association of Chiefs of Police

e John Thompson, Executive Director, National Sheriff's Association

© Tom Berry, Executive Director, Blue Alert Foundation

e TJ Kennedy, President, FirstNet Organization

Derek Poarch, Executive Director, Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials

e Mike Mullen (or designee), National Association of Broadcasters

1 See attached designation from Attorney General Lynch



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Robert W. Goodlatte
Chairman

Committee on the Judiciary

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

UM

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Madam Leader:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15,2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

PUA

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Majority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Leader:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub, L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

RUM

Peter J, Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



The COPS Office has consulted with each of the Advisory Group members individually.
Each member has indicated their full support and commitment to serve. The COPS Office will
add additional members to the Advisory Group as needed consistent with the discretion
granted to the Coordinator by the Blue Alert Act. The Advisory Group will have its inaugural
meeting later in November and will meet regularly thereafter.

C. Establish Voluntary Guidelines and Develop Protocols. The Blue Alert Act requires the

Coordinator to establish voluntary guidelines for states and local governments to use in
developing Blue Alert plans. The guidelines shall include a list of resources necessary to
establish Blue Alert plans, criteria, and guidelines for issuing Blue Alerts; guidelines to protect
privacy; and guidelines aligned with the National Crime Information Center database operated
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and any other relevant crime information
repository.

The Coordinator’s voluntary guidelines will effectively address the two complementary
yet separate components of the Blue Alert Act: public alerts and law enforcement sensitive
(LES) alerts. The public alerts provide suspect or missing officer information to the media and
affected public at large and contain information appropriate for public dissemination. By
contrast, the LES alerts provide information to the affected law enforcement agencies and
contain sensitive information that is accessible only to sworn law enforcement members.
Public and LES alerts are typically sent concurrently.

Further, the COPS Office will serve as a resource for promoting and supporting state and
local Blue Alert plans to include the following:

e Training and education in support of Blue Alert programs
¢ Model policies, bulletin templates, promotional items, etc.
e Amaster list of all state plans and contact information

e  Acurated Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP) Special Interest Group (SIG) for
law enforcement community

e A National repository for incident data, statistical analysis, etc.
© Developing strategic partnerships throughout public and private sectors
© Promoting technological compatibility

To ensure the issuance of comprehensive guidelines and resources, the COPS Office is
undertaking significant outreach and has met with Executive Director Tom Berry of Blue Alert



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530

November 29, 2016

The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
Ranking Member

Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Leahy:
Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community

Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the

Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an

Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15,2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Pury

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General

i



co Program staff —LaChundra Lindsey, Tracie Johnson-Farrell, Girale
Takahashi

e Established a Blue Alert Act Advisory Group

* Conducted direct outreach to all 56 states and territories to secure
information regarding any of their existing Blue Alert plans and materials (or
lack thereof)

e Collected state Blue Alert plans and/or related materials from the 27 states
with Blue Alert plans

¢ Conducted a review of existing Blue Alert plans to identify shared elements
along with opportunities for greater consistency and coordination

e Identified and conducted outreach with key stakeholders including Blue Alert
Foundation, Inc., FirstNet, International Justice and Public Safety Network
(National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System or NLETS) and Law
Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP)

e Launched a Blue Alert webpage on the COPS Office website at
http://cops.usdoj.gov/bluealert.*

The COPS Office will undertake the following activities:

e Conduct regular meetings with the Blue Alert Act Advisory Group

e Continue outreach to states that do not have Blue Alert plans to encourage
implementation and assess and provide technical assistance regarding
impediments

® Continue working with various Blue Alert stakeholders and federal partners

e Assess existing state Blue Alert plans to identify best practices

Develop a Blue Alert Act communications model to capture the need for
public alerts and law enforcement sensitive alerts

* Based on working with states, stakeholders, and the Advisory Group, will
develop and issue policy guidance, voluntary guidelines, and protocols

e Maintain a web page that identifies resources for states and law
enforcement agencies

© Promote the Blue Alert Act to thousands of law enforcement agencies and
officers at law enforcement conferences, in the COPS Office newsletter, and
to its grantees

4 Soe attached screen images of Blue Alert webpage

10



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. President:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

“PUMA

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



MEMORA

FROM:

SUBJECT:

Office of the Attorney General
Washington, BE 20530

September 29, 2016

NDUM FOR DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR ADMINISTRATION
THE ATTORNEY cunteas Mente é . Aya
Desipnation of the National Blue Alert Coordinator

Pursuant to the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015, Pub. L.

No. 114-12

. Lam directed to establish a national Blue Alert communications network within the

Department of Justice to issue Blue Alerts through the initiation. facilitation, and promotion of

Blue Alert

plans. in coordination with States, units of local government, law enforcement

agencies, and other appropriate entities.

To coordinate the activities required by the Act, | hereby designate the Director of the

Office of C

Coordinator

1

‘ommunity Oriented Policing Services (“COPS Office”) as the National Blue Alert
r. As described in the Act, the Coordinator's primary duties include:

Providing assistance to States and units of local government that are using Blue Alert
plans.

stablishing voluntary guidelines for States and units of local government to use in
developing Blue Alert plans that will promote compatible and integrated Blue Alert
plans throughout the United States.

Developing protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects that address activities during
the period beginning at the time of the initial notification of a law enforcement
agency that a suspect has not been apprehended and ending at the time of
apprehension of a suspect or when the law enforcement agency involved determines
that the Blue Alert is no longer effective,

Working with States to ensure the appropriate regional coordination of various
elements of the network.



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
Ranking Member

Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Conyers:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

PAA EE

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Charles E. Grassley
Chairman

Committee on the Judiciary

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No, 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

“PUMA

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



Blue Alert Foundation, Inc. As noted earlier, the COPS Office is working closely with the
Blue Alert Foundation, Inc. which was founded in 2008 by Executive Director Tom Berry. The
foundation works to promote the creation and establishment of Blue Alert systems throughout
the United States. It also provides support to families of fallen officers and facilitates the
acquisition of critical safety equipment for law enforcement agencies needing assistance.
Executive Director Berry has agreed to serve on the Blue Alert Advisory Group. He is providing
significant assistance and consultation to the COPS Office regarding implementation of the Blue
Alert Act.

FirstNet. FirstNet is an independent authority within the Department of Commerce’s
National Telecommunication and Information Administration. FirstNet’s mission is to build,
operate, and maintain the first high-speed nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated
to public safety. Once fully operational, FirstNet will provide a single interoperable platform for
emergency and daily public safety communications.

The Attorney General is statutorily designated as a board member of FirstNet. In 2013,
then-Attorney General Eric H. Holder, consistent with the FirstNet bylaws, delegated his
responsibilities, including the authority to participate in and vote at board meetings, to the
COPS Office Director. Because the objectives of FirstNet were related to those of the COPS
Office program, including the improvement of public safety at the state, local, and tribal levels
and the coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement capabilities, the COPS
Office Director was the appropriate delegate to serve on the FirstNet board during the
inaugural years. Currently, the Executive Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s Science and Technology Branch serves as the Attorney General’s delegate on the
FirstNet Board.

The COPS Office, in light of the similar equities and resources between FirstNet and the
Blue Alert Act, has requested the consultation and assistance of FirstNet. TJ Kennedy, President
of FirstNet, has agreed to serve on the Blue Alert Act Advisory Group. This expertise will be
invaluable in the development of the COPS Office’s national strategy. The COPS Office
anticipates that FirstNet, once operational, will be able to streamline and mitigate Blue Alert
Act costs for states.

International Justice and Public Safety Network (National Law Enforcement
Telecommunications System or NLETS). NLETS is the primary interstate justice and public safety
network for the exchange of secure law enforcement and criminal justice information. NLETS is
a private not-for-profit corporation owned by the 50 States and managed by a board of regional
representatives. NLETS connects all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam, and Canada along with 24 federal agencies and various associate
members for the secure exchange of criminal justice data.



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Harry Reid
Minority Leader

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Leader:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

PAYA

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



NATIONAL
( UO) »)) Blue Alert
NETWORK

What is a Blue Alert?

Blue Alerts are alerts intended to rapidly disseminate information about violent criminals who pose an imminent threat
to law enforcement and others. They are issued to law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public.

When are Blue Alerts issued?

Blue Alerts can be issued when a law enforcement officer is killed, seriously injured, or missing in the line of duty,
or when an imminent and credible threat to kill or seriously injure a law enforcement officer is received.

Where are Blue Alert plans in effect?

Twenty-seven states have implemented Blue Alert plans.

Blue Alert Plan Status by State

BLUE ALERT STATE PLANS:
GBD stces with uc aera

States Considering Blue Alert Pans,

peeves
Nar

Septrmbor 2016

What is the National Blue Alert Network?

The National Blue Alert Network supports the integration of Blue Alert plans throughout the United States into
a national system. It promotes compatibility across jurisdictions by establishing voluntary guidelines for states and
local governments to use in developing their own Blue Alert plans,

For more information, go to www.cops.usdoj.gov/bluealert
or email BlueAlert@usdoj.gov.

COPS

Community Orlented Policing Services
US, Department of Justice



Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act
REPORT TO CONGRESS
United States Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
1 Purpose

Pursuant to the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015, Pub. L. No.
114-12 (Blue Alert Act), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ or Department) provides
this annual report to Congress.

I. Background

The Blue Alert Act was enacted to establish a voluntary nationwide system to give an early
warning of threats against law enforcement officers. Named for two fallen New York Police
Department (NYPD) officers who were ambushed, the Blue Alert Act is intended to facilitate
rapid dissemination of information to law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public that
will aid in apprehending violent criminals who have killed or seriously injured a law
enforcement officer in the line of duty, finding an officer when he or she is missing in
connection with his or her official duties, or sharing notice of an imminent and credible threat
that an individual intends to cause the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer
when it is received.

Officer safety and wellness remains a top priority for the Department, which is committed
to implementing the Blue Alert Act aimed to protect the lives of the men and women who
bravely serve in law enforcement. Following the passage of the Blue Alert Act, the Department
devoted time and consideration to ensure the most appropriate and well-suited DOJ
component lead this effort. In June 2016, based on its extensive work and collaborative
research on officer safety and wellness, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS Office) was assigned to implement the program. The COPS Office is honored to oversee
implementation of the Blue Alert Act.

di. Coordinator Activities

The Blue Alert Act requires the Attorney General to “establish a national Blue Alert
communications network within the [U.S.] Department of Justice to issue Blue Alerts through
the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of Blue Alert plans, in coordination with States, units
of local government, law enforcement agencies, and other appropriate entities.”



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530

November 29, 2016

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Leader:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through Noveniber 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

‘PUVH

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



¢ Identify fiscal needs for further implementation of the Blue Alert Act and
make appropriate funding requests

11



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
November 29, 2016

The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch
President Pro Tempore

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. President:

Enclosed please find the Department of Justice (the Department) Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Report on the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National
Blue Alert Act to Congress (Pub. L. No. 114-12). Under the National Blue Alert Act, the
Department is required to develop the national Blue Alert framework; determine and designate an
Advisory Board; create voluntary guidelines for States; and identify and address the challenges
facing States as they try to implement Blue Alert.

The Report focuses on the work of the COPS Office in executing the National Blue Alert
Act through November 15, 2016. Since the designation of the COPS Office Director as the
National Blue Alert Coordinator in June of 2016, the COPS Office has made tremendous progress
in implementing the National Blue Alert Act, despite not having any additional appropriated
funding for this designation and new public law.

We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may
provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

RUA

Peter J. Kadzik
Assistant Attorney General



5. Establishing an advisory group to assist States, units of local government. law
enforcement agencies, and other entitics involved in the network with initiating.
facilitating, and promoting Blue Alert plans.

6. Acting as the nationwide point of contact for the development of the network and
regional coordination of Blue Alerts through the network.

7. Determining what procedures and practices are in use, and which are effective and do
not require additional resources 10 implement, for notilying law enforcement and the
public when — (a) an officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty; (b) an
officer is missing in connection with his or her official duties: and (c) an imminent
and credible threat to kill or seriously injure an officer is reecived,

8. Submitting an annual report to Congress on the activities of the Coordinator and the
effectiveness and status of Blue Alert plans that are in effect or being developed.

Since the objectives of the national Blue Alert communications network align with the
COPS Office's officer safety portfolio, the Director of the COPS Office is the appropriate officer
within the Department of Justice to serve as (he National Blue Alert Coordinator.

cc: Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General



Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert
Act

REPORT TO CONGRESS

United States Department of Justice

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services