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The Council of Metropolitan Police and Sheriffs (COMPAS) sends its heartfelt condolences out to the Washington State Troopers and to the family of the fallen Trooper this morning. The entire law enforcement community feels this loss and we grieve with our brothers and sisters at the Washington State Patrol. COMPAS believes that 1820, a bill that creates a Blue Alert system and sponsored by Representative Mike Hope, would help in situations such as the one experienced this morning. The Blue Alert is similar to an Amber Alert. It would notify the media and members of the public when a suspect is on the run after severely injuring or killing a law enforcement officer. Bill 1820 is currently sitting in the House Ways and Means committee, which is chaired by Representative Ross Hunter. “Nothing is ever dead in Olympia,” commented COMPAS Executive Director Renee Maher. “There is still time to move this bill and make sure it is implemented this year! This is an easy, efficient way to use the eyes and ears of the public to make sure someone willing to killing a police officer is caught as quickly as possible.” “If a person is willing to kill a law enforcement officer, there is no doubt they would be willing to kill other people in their flight,” commented COMPAS President Ron Smith. “The Blue Alert system needs to become law in Washington State.” COMPAS is a non-partisan advocacy organization that represents over 2000 currently commissioned law enforcement officers in Seattle and King County. COMPAS has been involved in protecting the pension and working conditions of officers who continue to serve their communities. COMPAS has also been directly involved in legislation in previous years to enhance the benefits of officers catastrophically disabled in the line of duty and families of fallen officers and firefighters. Please contact Representative Mike Hope at 360-786-7031 or Executive Director Renee Maher at 253-334-1735 for any questions. .###################
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