City of Salina-False Alarm Ordinance

1. City Commissioners Presentation
09/22/14
Brad L. Nelson, Chief of Police

2. False Alarm Defined – The activation of an alarm system through
mechanical failure, malfunction, improperly installed or
improperly maintained alarm system equipment, or the
negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or his/her
employees or agent.
Alarms Received by the SPD
 Burglary (Commercial or Residential)
 Hold up (Bank)
 Panic (Residential)
A significant majority of these alarm calls for service result in
“False Dispatches” which are unnecessary requests for police
assistance.

3.  Over the last five years, the SPD has
responded to 11,085 alarm calls for service.
 11,044 or 99% were FALSE.
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
12
9
12
2
6
Alarm Total
False Alarms
Verified Alarms
Source: SPD Emergency Operations

4.  2,453 False Alarm Responses
 40 minutes per call
 1,635 hours responding to false alarms
 2 officers per call
 $48,527 in officer salaries*
* Does not include dispatcher salary or vehicle/equipment cost

5.  Alarm calls have been the second most call
for service over the past five years.
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Suspicious Activity
Alarms
Theft
Domestic Violence
Accidents
Damage to Property
Source: SPD Emergency Operations

6. Officer and Citizen Safety - The proportion of dispatched calls
that are due to false alarms remains high, causing complacency
among responding officers. Such complacency can leave officers
less prepared, physically and mentally, to respond if the alarm is
valid. Further, unnecessary dispatches increases the opportunity
for officer injuries and accidents.
Community Expectations - Limiting response and/or charging
fees and fines can be a public relations challenge. Alarm owners
may perceive alarm response as a basic function of their local
law enforcement agency. (80/20 Rule)
Resources - Responding to false alarms requires considerable
resources, including personnel costs for dispatchers and
responding officers and time lost in responding to other calls.
Source: IACP

7. International Association of Chiefs of Police
1) Enhanced or Two Call Verification –The "verified response" method requires an independent eyewitness
verification that a criminal act either is occurring or has occurred prior to requesting law enforcement
dispatch.*
2) Utilizing alarm specific control panels built to American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Security
Industry Association (SIA), Control Panel (CP) 01 standards, ANSI SIA CP- 01.
3) Requiring Alarm Permits or Registrations with Fees
4) False Alarm Fines – Setting reasonable fines for alarm dispatches has proven to be a significant
deterrent to offenders. These fines increase as the false alarms increase.
5) Ceasing Response – This is a drastic measure and should only be utilized for chronic abusers. This
option should also be available to those abusers who continually pay the fines and “write checks” to
cover the police response.
* No verification needed for robbery or panic alarms.

8.  Yearly registration/permit required. Why?
 Yearly registration/permit fee waived if no
false alarms previous year.
 First two false alarm responses are free.
 Third false alarm results in $50.00 Fine.
 Subsequent $25.00 increase for each
additional false alarm.

9.  The SPD presently monitors 200 accounts in
Emergency Operations. (150 are billable)
 Present Alarm Receiver housed in Emergency
Operations needs replaced at the cost of
$22,500.
 Generates $45,000 in monitoring fees yearly.
 No redundancy of system if fails.
 No back up system in secondary dispatch
center.
 Civil liability

10.  Professional Alarm Monitoring Companies
with years of experience.
 Qualified in the numerous aspects of alarm
monitoring.
 Proven record of managing cities alarm
ordinances.
 Do not presently have personnel available or
qualified to be Alarm Coordinator.

11.  No Up-Front Costs
 Alarm permitting and registration
 Alarm company coordination
 False alarm tracking
 False alarm billing
 Reports and documentation
 Remittance processing
 Alarm education program

12.  Wichita – Permit Required
 Overland Park – Permit Required
 Kansas City – Permit Required
 Olathe – Permit Required
 Manhattan – Permit Required
 Lenexa – Permit Required

14.  Recognize the significant burden these false
alarms place on your police department.
 Providing solution to significantly reduce
these calls for service.
 Approve concept of a False Alarm ordinance
for the City of Salina.