State Representative Lew Evangelidis Files Blue Alert Legislation
January 27, 2010
Representative Lew Evangelidis (R-1ST Worcester District) announced that he has filed legislation with the House Clerk to develop and implement a Blue Alert system in the Commonwealth. The proposal by Evangelidis would develop and implement a statewide system to be activated when law enforcement officials are searching for an individual who is wanted in the serious injury or killing of a police officer, state trooper, or other law enforcement official. The alert would utilize media outlets and highway road signs to communicate valuable information to the public about the suspect similar to the way the Amber Alert system is utilized to help locate missing children.
Evangelidis, a former assistant district attorney and assistant state prosecutor said, “I think we can all agree that those who would go so far as to seriously injure or kill a police officer has little regard for the law or human life and can be considered some of our most dangerous criminals. This proposal will utilize an infrastructure that is already in place, therefore there will be little if any additional cost to help further protect the citizens of the Commonwealth and our police officers.” Evangelidis added, “We need to be able to give valuable information to motorists and residents when these very dangerous suspects are on the run.”
Evangelidis drafted the bill after he was contacted by a Worcester resident who asked him to research and file the Blue Alert legislation. She is the daughter of a former police officer and felt as though this important piece of legislation would be an appropriate way to honor her late father.
This legislation has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition and a number of police chiefs. The bill has been co-sponsored in the legislature by Representatives Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury), Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lennox), Thomas Golden, Jr (D-Lowell), John Fernandes (D-Milford), George Peterson (R-Grafton), Bob Hargraves (R-Harvard), Sue Gifford (R-Wareham), Brian Wallace (D-Boston), James Dwyer (D-Woburn), Stephen DiNatale (D-Fitchburg), Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield), Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading), Chris Donelan (D-Orange), Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury), Harold P. Naughton, Jr (D-Clinton), Paul Frost (R-Auburn), Todd Smola (R-Palmer), John Keenan (D-Salem ), Thomas Calter (D-Kingston), James Miceli (D- Wilmington), John Quinn (D-Dartmouth) and Senators Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre), Steven Baddour (Methuen) and Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge).
This bill has been filed with the House Clerk and is awaiting assignment to a legislative committee.