With the California Peace Officers’ Memorial serving as a backdrop, Sen. George Runner held a press conference Thursday to introduce Senate Bill 839, known as “Blue Alert,” which would use the existing statewide Amber Alert notification system when a peace officer has been killed, seriously wounded, or assaulted with a firearm and the suspect has fled the scene.

“It’s important to catch a cop-killer immediately,” said Runner who also authored California’s Amber Alert in 2003. “Anyone willing to shoot a peace officer in cold blood would not hesitate to shoot a civilian. A violent act against a police officer is a violent act against society and that’s why we need to react firmly and quickly.”

The plan would use the existing Amber Alert system allowing officials to send out the Blue Alert with a license plate number or a vehicle and suspect description to help authorities locate a shooter. If the bill passes, California will be one of first states to implement the system statewide.

Investigators could immediately broadcast information through the Emergency Broadcast System on television and radio and on the freeway signs to alert public.

Blue Alert is supported by the California State Sheriffs’ Association, which represents all 58 California county sheriffs, including Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness who spoke at the event.

“Unfortunately, I have witnessed first-hand the tragic ‘officer-down’ situations,” said McGinness, who in recent years has lost deputies to gang violence. “When an officer is shot, quick apprehension of the shooter is critical to avoid further violence – such as the tragic killing of four Oakland peace officers last year.”

Other speakers included Bill Bean, Sr. the father of Sacramento Police Officer Bill Bean, Jr. who was shot in the line of duty 11 years ago; Sen. Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) and Assemblyman Danny Gilmore (R-Hanford).

Also attending the event were representatives from the California Broadcasters’ Association; California Peace Officers’ Association; Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs; and the Police Officers’ Research Association of California.

The bill faces no opposition and is awaiting Senate committee hearings before it is voted by the full Senate.