Gregoire to sign Blue Alert bill to help find cop killers
Mar 14, 2012, 5:51 PM | Updated: Mar 15, 2012, 8:17 am
Washington State Trooper Tony Radulescu was making a routine traffic stop when he was shot. He was a 16-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol, had stopped a pickup truck around 1 a.m. on Highway 16 about 20 miles west of Seattle across Puget Sound. The Blue Alert bill had stalled in Olympia because of it's $100,000 price tag. Recently, the murder of Radulescu gave it new life. (AP Photo/The News Tribune, Janet Jensen)
Governor Chris Gregoire is expected to sign a bill on
Thursday that will create an alert system that would let
the public know when to be on the lookout for a cop
killer.
The state will put a Blue Alert system in place, similar
to the Amber Alert for missing kids.
In situations where someone has killed or severley injured
an officer, the alert will go out asking for the public’s
help in locating the suspect.
These suspects, according to supporter of the bill and
police widow Renee Maher pose an extra threat.
“A lot of times, those are the people who are going to
kill others as well. They have nothing to lose. They’re
going out on their terms.”
The bill had stalled in Olympia because of it’s $100,000
price tag. Recently, the murder of Washington State Patrol
Trooper Tony Radulescu gave it new life.
Radulsecu’s son, Eric, spoke at his funeral about the aid
the Blue Alert could create if it was in place.
“It will help to have the community on watch for criminals
who seriously injure or kill police officers and I think
it’s going to make a difference for everyone in law
enforcement.”
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Mike Hope of Lake Stevens,
a Seattle police veteran.
The bill passed in both Houses unanimously.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
