Executive Summary
- The TBI issued a Blue Alert for Danell Maxwell, 40, following the shooting of a Memphis police officer.
- Maxwell faces charges of Attempted 1st Degree Murder and is considered armed and dangerous.
- A reward of up to $2,500 is offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
- This is the first activation of the Tennessee Blue Alert system this year.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has activated a “Blue Alert” regarding the manhunt for Danell Maxwell, a 40-year-old suspect accused of shooting and wounding a Memphis Police Department officer. The alert, issued overnight, signals a statewide prioritization of the search for the suspect, who authorities warn is armed and dangerous.
According to the official TBI alert released on February 26, Maxwell is wanted on charges of Attempted First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Employment of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. Law enforcement officials have subsequently added Maxwell to the state’s most wanted list following the incident involving the Memphis Police Department.
Authorities have announced a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to Maxwell’s arrest. The TBI has requested that anyone with information concerning Maxwell’s whereabouts contact the Memphis Police Department or the TBI directly. The agency emphasized the potential danger the suspect poses to the public and law enforcement personnel.
The Blue Alert system, which was implemented in Tennessee on July 1, 2011, mandates the rapid dissemination of information to assist in the arrest of violent criminals who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, similar systems operate in 37 states. TBI administrators confirmed that this instance marks the first utilization of the Blue Alert system in Tennessee this year, meeting strict criteria including the existence of an imminent threat to public safety.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Public Safety Mechanism
The activation of the Blue Alert system represents a critical escalation in law enforcement strategy, utilizing public infrastructure such as Department of Transportation Smartway Signs to widen the search net. By engaging the community through the same high-visibility channels used for AMBER Alerts, authorities aim to reduce the time a violent suspect remains at large, thereby mitigating the ongoing threat to public safety and officer security in the region.
