Capture of accused police killer comes three weeks before Blue Alert System
Accused cop killer Ian McCarthy has been captured two days after allegedly shooting and killing a Clinton police officer.
The capture comes three weeks before Missouri is expected to launch the Blue Alert System, aimed at identifying and locating those suspected of killing or seriously injuring a law enforcement officer. Missouri is the 28th state to create a Blue Alert System.
The Department of Public Safety will work with local agencies and news outlets to implement the system.
Currently, agencies across the country often post suspect information through social media and email. This system will streamline those efforts by having the agency send the information to public safety, which then gives it to the new outlets.
In Clinton, the shooting happened at 10:46 p.m Sunday. The first social media post from the Highway Patrol came at 6:05 a.m. Monday.
Participation is optional for agencies and outlets but will include the Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation and the Missouri Lottery.
DPS is responsible for breaking up the state into regions and coordinating with agencies and outlets in those regions to create an effective system.
In the event that a local law enforcement agency opts not to set up a system and a killing or serious wounding of a law enforcement officer occurs within the jurisdiction, it shall notify the department of public safety who will notify local media in the region.
