The Blue Alert that went out yesterday. Screenshot by Abbey Higginbotham/Axios
Phones across Jackson County lit up yesterday morning after a Lee's Summit police officer was shot during a traffic stop the night before. The suspect remains at large, and authorities say he may be armed.
Why it matters: These alerts are rare. Missouri has only issued five Blue Alerts since launching the program in 2017, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
How it works: The MSHP pushes the alert through the Wireless Emergency Alert system; the same one used for Amber Alerts.
The big picture: State law requires strict conditions: an officer must be hurt or missing, there must be a credible threat, and police need info like a photo or vehicle to share.
What they're saying: "We want the public to take these alerts seriously," said Lt. Eric Brown with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "Similar to an Amber Alert or any other message we send."
