What is a Blue Alert in Ohio?

EUCLID, Ohio (WJW) – Authorities issued a Blue Alert early Sunday for a man who reportedly shot a Euclid police officer in an ambush late Saturday night.

Like the state’s Amber Alert system for abducted children, Ohio’s Blue Alert system is designed to quickly disseminate information about people suspected of killing, seriously injuring or kidnapping law enforcement officers who are still at large.

Shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the Attorney General’s Office issued a Blue Alert for Deshawn Anthony Vaughn, the 24-year-old man suspected of killing 23-year-old Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin Saturday night. Authorities considered him “armed and extremely dangerous.”

Blue Alerts are only issued when there is enough descriptive information about the suspect. The early Sunday alert included a photo of Vaughn, his age, height, weight and hair and eye color, as well as a stock photo showing the make, model and color of the vehicle he was believed to be driving.

Once activated, the information is shared with other law enforcement officers as well as news media and truck drivers. It also appears on highway signs.

Ohio’s Blue Alert system went online in 2012.

“It is critical that the public cooperate with law enforcement in a situation like this,” said then-Attorney General Mike DeWine. “Ohioans have helped find missing children with AMBER Alerts, and they have helped find missing older adults with Missing Adult Alerts.” The new Blue Alerts now give Ohioans the opportunity to help officers who work every day putting their lives at risk for the public.”

A nationwide blue alert system was established in 2015 in response to the ambush killings of New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in December 2014, Nexstar reported.

To sign up for Ohio’s Blue Alerts, visit the Attorney General’s website.

Residents with information about active Blue Alerts can tip law enforcement in the same manner as Amber Alerts by calling 877-262-3764 or 911.