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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77468</law_id><section_number>52-34.9</section_number><catch_line>Activation of Blue Alert Program</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-60.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="52">Police (State)</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7.3">Virginia Blue Alert Program</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Upon notification by a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency</span> that a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public, the Department of State Police shall confirm that (i) a suspect has not been apprehended, (ii) the suspect may be a serious threat to the public, and (iii) sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the suspect. <a id="paragraph-277871" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Upon notification by a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency</span> that a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for such <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span>&#x2019;s safety, the Department of State Police shall confirm this information and determine whether sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span>. <a id="paragraph-277872" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon verification that conditions set forth in subsection A or B have been met, the Department of State Police shall activate the Blue Alert Program. <a id="paragraph-277873" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The area of the alert may be less than statewide if the Department of State Police determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the suspect did not leave a certain geographic location or if the nature of the event makes it probable that the missing <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> is within a certain geographic location. The Department of State Police shall assess the appropriate boundaries for the alert based on the nature of the suspect, the circumstances surrounding the <span class="dictionary">crime</span> or the last known location of the missing <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span>. <a id="paragraph-277874" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The Blue Alert shall include such information as the Department of State Police deems appropriate that will assist in the apprehension of the suspect or the locating of the missing <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span>. <a id="paragraph-277875" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency</span> shall notify the Department of State Police immediately when the suspect is located or the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> is found or the incident is otherwise resolved. <a id="paragraph-277876" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The Department of State Police shall terminate any activation of the Blue Alert Program with respect to a particular incident if (i) the suspect or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> is located or the incident is otherwise resolved or (ii) the Department of State Police determines that the Blue Alert Program is no longer an effective tool for locating the suspect or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span>. <a id="paragraph-277877" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/52-34.9/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2011, c. 669.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
