FOX Carolina 21Upstate lawmaker introduces bill for Blue Alert System

Upstate lawmaker introduces bill for Blue Alert System

Blue lights and sirens went off when police say they found themselves in a shootout at the Berkley Point Apartments in Greenville last year. Ten schools went on lockdown while a suspect went on the run.

And nearly 12 years ago, on Dec. 6, 2000, trooper Eric Nicholson made his last stop just off Woodruff Road. It's the day John Wood shot and killed him and took off down Interstate 85 and crossed county lines. Nicholson's widow, Misty Nicholson, said attacks against law enforcement are becoming too common.

"When something like that happens, it definitely does bring you back to that day and that circumstance," Misty Nicholson said.

She said it only takes seconds for a criminal to get out of an area quickly.

"Luckily we had witnesses that were able to see what happened and was able to follow the person that did it and give them the tag," she said.

But that doesn't always happen. That's why state Rep. Eddie Tallon, R-District 33, introduced a bill called the Blue Alert.

"This is for any law enforcement officer that's been shot, seriously injured, killed or abducted," he said.

He said it works like the Amber Alert system when a child is missing. SLED agents will post tag information or descriptions of a suspect on boards along highways and even on computers at gas stations.

"The infrastructure is already there for it. So, we want to be able to get that information out to protect our citizens," Tallon said.

The House already passed the bill, and it's now in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Hopefully we don't ever have to use it, but we'll have it if we need it," he said.

And Misty Nicholson said maybe the next time she sees blue lights or hears sirens because of the Blue Alert, she or other drivers may be able to help.

Tallon said 10 states already use the Blue Alert system.

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