What is the purpose of a BOLO alert?

A BOLO alert, which stands for "Be On the Look Out," serves the primary purpose of alerting law enforcement personnel and, at times, the public to be vigilant for a specific suspect or vehicle associated with a crime. This can involve providing details such as a description of the suspect, the last known location, or any other identifying information that may assist in locating them. The emphasis here is on suspect identification, making it crucial for effective law enforcement response and community safety.

In contrast, while identifying missing persons is important, it is more specific to cases where individuals are unaccounted for rather than alerting about suspects. Notifications regarding traffic changes or issuing fines for parking violations do not fall under the purpose of BOLO alerts, as they relate to public safety and enforcement within a different context. Thus, the correct identification of a BOLO alert’s purpose is to keep the law enforcement community alert for a suspect involved in criminal activities.