*** MEDIA ADVISORY***

CONTACT: Susan Sullam, 410-962-4436

or 410-960-2440 (cell)
March 23, 2011

SENATOR CARDIN TO INTRODUCE “NATIONAL BLUE

ALERT” BILL TO HELP APPREHEND CRIMINALS WHO
INJURE OR KILL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
National Bill Is Modeled on Maryland “Blue Alert” System

On Monday, March 28, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) will be joined by Maryland
law enforcement officials to announce the introduction of the National Blue Alert Act,
creating a nationwide alert system to apprehend violent criminals who have injured or
killed police officers. According to the FBI, 48 law enforcement officers were feloniously
killed in the line of duty in 2009; over the past decade, an average of 53 law enforcement
officers were killed in the line of duty each year. The nationwide alert system would be
used to disseminate critical information about the suspect to law enforcement agencies,
the public and the media.

In June 2010, Maryland State Trooper Wesley Brown was murdered outside an
Applebee’s in Forestville, MD. At that time, Gov. Martin O’Malley signed an executive
order creating the Maryland Blue Alert System. In 2008, Florida was the first state to
implement a Blue Alert System and since then Oklahoma, Texas, Maryland, Delaware,
Alabama, Florida, California, Georgia, Mississippi, and Virginia have all approved
similar alerts.

 WHO: Senator Cardin, Col. Terrence Sheridan, Superintendent, MD State

Police; Chuck Canterbury, President, National Fraternal Order of Police; Susan
Nickerson, President of Maryland Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, and
other law enforcement agencies.

 WHEN: Monday, March 28 at 1 p.m.

 WHERE: FOP Lodge 89,

2905 Old Largo Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772