BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the President signed into law a bill Heitkamp cosponsored to create a national Blue Alert system to support local law enforcement and keep communities safe. A version of the program launched across North Dakota two weeks ago.

“Our peace officers dedicate their lives to keeping our families, and our communities safe,” said Heitkamp. “And we can honor their brave service by making sure we have a national system in place that will maximize officer safety. This new program will coordinate local and national resources to help find those who threaten our officers and communities, and apprehend the criminals who aim to harm them. By also engaging our communities to respond to national and statewide alerts, we can open up a broader network of support to assist our officers – showing our officers that the communities they keep safe will always have their backs. Just as I worked to help pass legislation to implement this Blue Alert system across the country, I’ll continue to push for measures that recognize the important work of our federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, and that help make sure they have the support they need to come home safely to their families each night.”

Since serving as North Dakota’s Attorney General, Heitkamp has long supported efforts to honor and protect local law enforcement in North Dakota and across the nation. The National Blue Alert system bill she supported passed in the Senate last month. Also last month, Heitkamp worked to recognize the tireless work of police officers by supporting designation of the week of May 9 as National Police Week. She also supported legislation to make sure local law enforcement officers are equipped with bullet-proof vests to make sure they can come home each night to their families.

Last fall, Heitkamp launched her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative to help address some of the emerging challenges facing the state by bringing a greater focus to keeping North Dakota's communities strong and families safe in their homes, including better supporting local law enforcement officers. By convening a Strong & Safe Communities Task Force comprised of North Dakotans from across the state who have strong understandings of many of the new safety challenges the state faces – such as increases in drug-related crimes, human trafficking, infrastructure stress, and the movement of crude by rail through North Dakota towns, as well as other issues – the group is working together to offer recommendations to help make sure North Dakota's communities remain strong and safe for decades to come by addressing these issues head on. 

###