What Tennessee’s Blue Alert Means and Why It Was Issued After a Memphis Officer Shooting

A statewide alert after an officer-involved shooting

Tennessee’s Blue Alert system was activated overnight after a Memphis Police Department officer was shot and critically injured Thursday evening, Feb. 26, 2026, in the Parkway Village area. Authorities identified 40-year-old Danell Maxwell as the suspect sought in connection with the shooting, and described him as armed and dangerous.

The alert distributed a physical description and clothing details intended to help the public and law enforcement recognize the suspect. Officials said Maxwell was last seen wearing dark clothing and an orange-and-green reflective vest. His direction of travel was reported as unknown at the time the alert was issued.

What a Blue Alert is

A Blue Alert is a rapid public-notification tool used when law enforcement is trying to locate a suspect connected to the killing or serious injury of an officer in the line of duty, or when an officer is missing under circumstances that raise safety concerns. The goal is to quickly disseminate suspect and vehicle information broadly enough to support an arrest and reduce the risk of additional harm.

At the federal level, Blue Alerts are supported through a national framework designed to help states and local agencies distribute time-sensitive information in emergencies involving threats to officers. The alert mechanism is operationally comparable to other public warning systems that push urgent information through multiple channels.

How Tennessee decides to issue a Blue Alert

In Tennessee, the Blue Alert system is administered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) after a request from a law enforcement agency. Before an alert is activated, specific criteria must be satisfied. Those criteria include:

• an officer has been killed, suffered life-threatening injuries, or is missing under circumstances indicating potential danger;
• the suspect is believed to pose an imminent threat to the public or to law enforcement;
• there is enough descriptive information—such as identifying details about the suspect or a vehicle—to broadcast statewide;
• steps are taken to support apprehension efforts, including criminal-justice information sharing and required warrant-related actions when the suspect is identified.

How the public may see a Blue Alert

Blue Alerts can reach the public through multiple channels, including broadcast and digital distribution pathways commonly used for emergency notifications. In Tennessee, alerts are also displayed on state transportation message boards in areas connected to the incident, in addition to distribution to law enforcement communications networks.

Authorities warned the suspect identified in the Feb. 26 shooting is considered armed and dangerous.

What is known and what remains unclear

As of Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, authorities had not publicly released the injured officer’s name or detailed circumstances leading up to the shooting. Officials reported the officer was in critical but stable condition. The Blue Alert was issued to accelerate identification and capture efforts as the search continued.

The investigation remained active, and officials continued urging anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to contact Memphis Police and the TBI.