What is a blue alert in Tennessee now?

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued two blue alerts this week over two separate shootings of law enforcement officers, WCMV reports.

The alerts were activated following the shootings of one Hendersonville officer and one Erin PD officer.

What does blue alert mean and when is it activated?

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What is a blue alert in Tennessee now?
Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images

What is a blue alert?

A blue alert is activated when law enforcement departments need to release immediate information to the public to ask them to assist with “apprehending violent criminals”, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation states.

The alert is issued when a police officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty or missing with foul play suspected. Descriptions of suspects and their vehicles, if applicable, are made available to national media, the public and law enforcement 911 centers, WCMV reports.

The TBI explained: “When TBI receives a request from a law enforcement agency that a death or serious injury of a law enforcement officer has occurred, administrators will ensure the Blue Alert criteria has been met, then proceed to issue the alert.”

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Nashville warning issued after police officer shot

A man wanted by the police after shooting a Hendersonville police officer has died, The Tennessean reports.

The 34-year-old man, Samuel Quinton Edwards, shot the police officer during a chase in Madison on Monday, June 27. The officer sustained non-critical wounds, as per Metro Nashville PD (MNPD).

According to police, Edwards fired shots at the officer’s SUV before abandoning a van and fleeing the scene on foot armed with two guns.

Another blue alert was activated after an Erin PD officer was shot, WCMV reports. As reported by the outlet, the man was wanted by police in connection with the death of a woman. Law enforcement said it believed the suspect could be the same person who shot the Erin PD officer.

Both blue alerts were shared on TBI’s official Twitter profile and a cellphone alert was also sent to the public.

However, Edwards died after exchanging gunfire with Kentucky State Police in Louisville, officials told The Tennessean. The MNPD reported Edwards was dead just before 8pm on Tuesday. 

The Tennessean reports Edwards was out on bond and faced more than a dozen charges in Putnam County following a previous shooting incident on June 14, records showed.

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BREAKING: The gunman has been identified as Samuel Quinton Edwards, 34. After firing the last shots at the Hendersonville officer's SUV, Edwards drove to the 600 block of Gibson Dr & abandoned this van. See Edwards or know where he is? Please call 911. pic.twitter.com/Xj9GNcX2vw

— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) June 28, 2022

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Statement by Metro Nashville PD

Shortly after the blue alert over the shooting of the Hendersonville police officer was made public, the MNPD came forward with a statement.

Spokesman Don Aaron said: “The pursuit travelled from Vietnam Veterans Parkway, down the interstate and off at Old Hickory Boulevard in Davidson County.

“According to the Hendersonville officer, the suspect was firing shots almost immediately after the pursuit began, back at his police vehicle.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued two Blue Alerts on Tuesday: one for Samuel Quinton Edwards, who is accused of shooting a Hendersonville police officer Monday night during a police chase, and a second for BJ Brown, who is accused of shooting an officer in Erin, Tennessee.

Blue Alert: Man accused of shooting Hendersonville officer; Stolen truck found in Millersville

What is a Blue Alert?

TBI began issuing Blue Alerts in July 2011. The purpose of the system – established by Tennessee Code (TCA 38-6-122) – is to provide “rapid dissemination of information to the public to assist in apprehending violent criminals who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers in the line of duty or to aid in locating a missing officer where foul play is involved.”

The Blue Alert program uses the statewide infrastructure of America’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert system.

Who issues a Blue Alert?

The alerts are issued by the staff in TBI’s Criminal Intelligence Unit. According to TBI’s website, when the department receives a request from a law enforcement agency that death or serious injury of a law enforcement officer has occurred, administrators will ensure that the Blue Alert criteria have been met, then proceed to issue the alert.

Blue Alert suspect out on bond at time of officer shooting

Criteria for Blue Alerts

All the following criteria must be met for TBI to activate a Blue Alert:

  • A sworn law enforcement officer is killed, sustains life-threatening injuries or the officer is missing in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for the law enforcement officer’s safety
  • The suspect(s) pose(s) an imminent threat to public safety and law enforcement personnel
  • A description of the offender or vehicle is available for statewide broadcast to the public and law enforcement 911 centers.
  • Prior to activation, if the suspect(s) is/are identified, the requesting agency will immediately: Place the suspect in the temporary felon file in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Obtain felony warrants as soon as possible or within 24 hours and enter the offender into NCIC.
  • The head of any Tennessee law enforcement agency, Colonel of the Highway Patrol, Chief, Sheriff, or their designee of the investigating law enforcement agency of jurisdiction requests the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to activate the Blue Alert system.

The Blue Alert for Samuel Q. Edwards was issued on Tuesday, June 28. He is wanted by the Metro Nashville Police Department and the TBI for Attempted Criminal Homicide and Evading Arrest by Motor Vehicle.

What is a blue alert in Tennessee now?
Samuel Q. Edwards (Courtesy: MNPD)

Edwards is believed to be armed with two guns. If you see him, you are asked to call 911 immediately.

What is a code blue alert on my phone?

What is a Blue Alert? The Blue Alert provides officials with the ability to alert the public when a law enforcement officer has been injured, killed or is missing.

What is GREY alert?

be moved. Code Gray: Combative or violent patient. Amber Alert: Infant or child missing or abducted.

What is a silver alert in Tennessee?

A Silver Alert is a public notification system in the United States to broadcast information about missing persons – especially senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities – in order to aid in locating them.

What are the color alerts?

Code blue - life threatening medical emergency. Code red – a fire or a probable fire. Code purple or pink – a missing child or child abduction. Code gray – to alert security personnel that there is a dangerous person or criminal activity happening in the facility.