Mother of slain officer supports alert system

By David Skolnick | January 14, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

It took two days to capture the murderer of Youngstown police Patrolman Michael Hartzell, killed in the line of duty in April 2003.

A national alert system aimed at capturing criminals who injure or kill law-enforcement officials could have led to a quicker arrest, Mary Kay Hartzell, the officer’s mother, said Friday.

“In those two days, [Martin Koliser Jr., convicted of murdering Hartzell] could have killed a child or family,” she said. “The quicker the news gets out, the quicker criminals can be found.”

Hartzell attended a Friday press conference at the Mahoning County Justice Center with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and numerous Mahoning Valley law-enforcement officials in support of a proposed federal law that would create the national alert system.

“Her courage, during her time of grief, in advocating for others rather than giving up is a testimony to her” courage, Brown said of Hartzell.

Brown, a Democrat from Avon, said he supports a national “Blue Alert” system that would quickly provide needed information about those particular suspects to law- enforcement agencies, the public and the media.

It’s similar to Amber Alert, a system that helps spread the word nationally about missing children.

“We don’t have a way to find [those who injure or kill law-enforcement officers] across state lines,” Brown said.

Brown added: “A national Blue Alert system could mean the difference between capturing an assailant and having him escape.”

Those who injure or kill police officers and then flee are “desperate and a danger” to society, said Youngstown Police Chief Rod Foley.

The Ohio Senate approved legislation in December to establish a Blue Alert system in the state.

“It’s important to have it in Ohio, but it needs to be done nationwide,” Brown said.

At least 11 states have their own Blue Alert system.

If implemented, the national system would alert media and departments of transportation to provide descriptions of the offenders and their vehicles and license-plate information.