Do all states use Blue Alerts?
There are currently 37 states with Blue Alert plans., beginning with Florida and Texas in 2008, with New Jersey and Iowa signing up in 2020.
Pennsylvania currently has a pending Blue Alert legislation/action.
Congress passed the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 in order to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans.
The law is named in honor of New York City Police Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu who were killed in an ambush attack on December 20, 2014.
There is also a National Blue Alert Foundation that was founded to support families of those who lost their lives on duty.
Sevierville Road between Keeble Road and Destiny Lane is reopened
In the Blount County Sheriff's Office's latest update, it has been confirmed that Sevierville Road between Keeble Road and Destiny Lane is reopened.
The statement read: "Maryville , Tennessee - Sevierville Road between Keeble Road and Destiny Lane is reopened. Thank you for your patience as we continue to investigate our officer -involved shooting and line of duty death of Deputy Greg McCowan that occurred Thursday evening.
"Deputy Shelby Eggers was also shot and injured during the incident. Deputy Eggers was released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Thank you for the support and prayers for Deputy McCowan’s family and for Deputy Eggers’ continued recovery.
"This investigation is ongoing and we are still actively searching for suspect Kenneth Dehart, age 42. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Mr. Dehart or have seen or talked to him since Thursday evening, please call 865-981-7125 or 1-800-TBI-FIND."
Sheriff not sure if suspect is injured
During the press conference it was confirmed by the sheriff that the shooting happened after a traffic stop.
During the stop the deputy who was shot in the leg “returned fire.”
It’s unclear if the suspect was also wounded.
