By Maggie Thurber | Special to Ohio Watchdog

The Ohio Blue Alert system went into effect in June and now Ohioans can register to get Blue Alert information sent directly to their cell phone, email or fax.

Attorney General Mike DeWine

The Blue Alert, similar to an AMBERAlert which notifies the public about a kidnapped child, will broadcast information when there is an at-large suspect who has killed, seriously injured or kidnapped an Ohio peace officer.

“It’s critical that the public work with law enforcement in this type of situation,” said Attorney General Mike DeWine. ”The goal is for residents to help officers locate and apprehend the person responsible before they can do additional harm.”

A Blue Alert will be issued when there is sufficient information about the suspect or the circumstances surrounding a law enforcement officer’s injury, death or disappearance. Once a Blue Alert is activated, authorities throughout the state will also relay the information through television, radio and newspaper, on highway signs, and through truckers’ alerts.

To have the alerts sent as a text message, email or fax, you must register on the Attorney General’s website. Updates are also available through social media.

The Blue Alert program is operated by Ohio’s AMBER Alert Steering Committee which is made up of the Ohio Attorney General’s Missing Person’s Unit; Ohio Highway Patrol; Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association; Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police; Ohio Emergency Management Agency; Ohio Department of Transportation; Ohio Association of Broadcasters; State Emergency Communications Committee; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.