1. Providence Department of Public Safety, Providence Police Department
False Alarm Reduction Strategy

2. False Alarm Reduction Responsible Parties
City of Providence, Law Department
City of Providence, Alarm Registration Unit
Providence Police Department
Providence Department of Telecommunications
Alarm Companies

3. The Problem

4. Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) Statistics
38 Million active alarm systems
Roughly 85% of the permitted systems do not require a law dispatch in any give year
Next 8% have only one dispatch per year
Less than 3-4% of the systems are actual chronic abusers with 4 or more dispatches per year, the vast majority of systems work perfectly
Over 80% of unwanted alarm dispatches are caused by user error!
2-Call Confirmation process has reduced dispatches 50% or more in the last ten years.
Nationally alarm dispatches are down 70% from 15 years ago.
With the newest alarm technology including video the opportunities for solving crimes and increasing apprehensions for crimes in progress id ever increasing
Law Enforcement and Alarm Industry cooperation is at an all-time high.
In 2013, alarm installations increased by 19% from the annual figure.
Increase in alarm sales 19% increase
Growing fascination with “smart home” climate control, video system, and adding security tracking
A lot of self installations (not wired systems, portable) that you buy from Home Depot, etc.
Cable/TV companies adding cheap security to service you already have (cable, internet, etc.)

5. The Problem
PPD responds to approx. 12,500 calls for alarm bells each year
86% of these calls are false alarms
This equivalents into:
4,666 man hours/year
4 ½ months
$228,000 in costs to the City
30 mins per call  10,750 alarms  322,500 mins
1 DAY = 1440 MINS 1 WK = MINS
GRADE 1 = $988/WK $51,406/YR
mins per year
mins per month
1440 mins per day

6. Accomplishing Our Goal
A 50% reduction would result in:
4,666 man hours → 2,333 man hours
$228,000 → $114,000 of tax payer money
This would allow officers to divert this time to other patrol activities such as:
Foot Patrol
Community Interaction/Policing/Events
Faster Response Times

7. Providence Police – Calls for Service
*Average 13.66% total Calls for Service

8. Providence Police – Disposition of Alarms
*Average 86% False Alarm outcomes

9. Providence Police – False Calls by Alarm Property Types
46.58% total
35.62% total
10.72% total
4.73% total
2.32% total

10. Providence Police – Alarm Calls for Service (By Time)

11. Providence Police – Total Calls For Service vs. Alarm Calls for Service

12. Collection Rates
Currently, the city of Providence only collects approx. 58% of the fines due for false alarms (this does not include governmental property)
The problem will only get worse with the increase in alarm installations per year
Part I of the problem is the amount of false alarms we respond to
Part II of the problem is the current collection rates
These problems are driven by a bad non-evolving ordinance and faulty collection system

13. Providence Police – Collection Rates
58.80%
41.20%
*2010 Fees not provided

14. The Goal
The goal of the Providence Police Department False Alarm Reduction Strategy is to make a dramatic improvement in the efficiency of delivering police services without cost to taxpayers. Accomplishing this by reducing needless response to thousands of false alarms by 50% over a 3-5 year period.

15. Strategy
Upgrade current alarm ordinance to a nationally recognized method
Use alternative methods to enforce and collect outstanding fines

16. The Current Ordinance

17. The Current Ordinance
Providence law requires all establishments must first obtain an alarm permit, before using an alarm.
It is the responsibility of the establishments’ owner to provide a designee who can be contacted 24 hours in case of an emergency.
There is a one time only registration fee of $10

18. The Current Ordinance cont.
According to Providence law, 3 or more false alarms within a permit year is considered a public nuisance, and warrants a civil penalty.
Civil Penalties
Third, fourth, and fifth false alarm….$50.00
Sixth and Seventh false alarm….$100.00
Eighth and Ninth false alarm…$250.00
Tenth and over false alarms..$500.00

19. Failure to Pay
Civil penalties are usually given a 30 day period in which it can be paid.
Failure to not make payment within 30 days shall result in a discontinuance of responses by Law Enforcement.
Even though we have this Ordinance set in place, our collection rate is under 50%

20. New Proposed Ordinance

21. New Proposed Ordinance
For over twelve years the IACP has been an active leader in partnership with the security industry in strategies to reduce alarm dispatches. As a result, nationally, alarm dispatches have been substantially reduced during a time when alarm system installations have more than doubled.
Numerous joint studies have been conducted on alarm management to determine the most effective measures to reduce alarm dispatches. When considering the balance between community expectations, overall public safety, limited resources and IACP recommended initiatives such as Community Policing, the IACP has determined the following elements/best practices should be considered in any Alarm Management Program, by ordinance and/or Department policy:
Enhanced Call Verification
Utilizing alarm control panels built to ANSI SIA CP 01 standards
Requiring Alarm Permits w/fees
Free Responses/Fines
Ceasing Response

22. New Proposed Ordinance
Enhanced Call Verification (ECV)
Requiring Alarm Permits w/ fees
Free Responses/Fines
Ceasing Response

23. Enhanced Call Verification (ECV)
A requirement for alarm monitoring centers to make two calls to two different numbers (one typically a cell phone) prior to calling the Communications Center (excluding panic alarms or medical alarms) in an effort to determine the cause of the alarm and whether or not a dispatch is required.
When the alarm industry does not use call verification, 100% of the signals are dispatched
When one call is employed, 75% of all signals are stopped in the monitoring station
When a second verification call is employed, as fell as 10% of the calls will be dispatched

24. Requiring Alarm Permits w/ fees
Registration of alarm systems is beneficial for the effective and efficient management of alarm programs. By recording system owner information you have responsible party documentation for fines/renewals/policy or ordinance change notifications. Nominal fees for registration routinely cover costs associated with administration of these programs.
$35 initial alarm permit fee, and each subsequent annual permit renewal fee shall be $25

25. Free Responses/Fines
Setting reasonable fines for alarm dispatches can be a significant deterrent to offenders. Allowing a maximum of two free responses before incurring fines (including to governmental properties). When combined with restricting response to abusers; a reasonable fine structure will accomplish all reduction goals and allow for higher collection rates.

26. Free Responses/Fines (cont.)
First and Second alarm – Free
Third false alarm $ fine
Fourth false alarm    $ fine
Fifth false alarm . . ………………...$ fine
Sixth and over false alarms…….…  $ fine
Failure to register alarm system..….$ fine
(b)     Other Civil Penalty(ies). Violations will be enforced through the assessment of civil penalty(ies) in the amount of $ per violation.
(c)     Payment of Civil Penalty(ies).  Civil penalty(ies) shall be paid within (30) days from the date of the invoice. A late fee of $25.00 shall apply after 30 days. Unpaid fees after 90 days may also be transferred to collections with the addition of collection costs to the extent permitted by law. 
(d)     Discontinuance of law enforcement response. The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any civil penalty(ies) assessed under this ordinance within 30 days from the date of the invoice may result in discontinuance of law enforcement response to alarm signals that may occur at the premises described in the alarm user's permit until payment is received. In addition, failure to register and obtain a permit may result in no law enforcement response to an unregistered alarm.
(e)     Civil Non criminal violation. A violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be a civil violation and shall not constitute a misdemeanor or infraction.

27. Ceasing Response
Law enforcement should stop responding to chronic abusers and non-emergency requests from alarm monitoring companies (excluding panic alarms or medical alarms). It has been determined that many abusers will just “write checks” to cover police response.
Proper notice should be sent to owner/premise/monitoring source with a right to appeal and/or take corrective action for reinstatement.

28. Outsourcing to another Company
The purpose of outsourcing is for them to be responsible for administration, billing, fine collection, public education/awareness, data collection, and/or alarm software
The two companies that were researched:
Public Safety Corporation (CryWolf)
PMAM (False Alarm Management Solution)

29. The benefits to Outsourcing another Company (CryWolf)
CryWolf is currently used on an outsourced basis by more than 75 agencies across the United States, many of these large agencies with populations up to 4,000,000 that process as many as 100,000 false alarms annually.
Fast and Efficient False Alarm Processing
Generate custom notices, bills, forms, and reports
Transfer alarm information to and from dozens of CAD/RMS vendor systems
Track registered and unregistered alarm systems
Integrate alarm incident, billing, and accounts receivable information
Improved Citizen Awareness and Compliance
Correspond electronically with alarm owners and companies
Provide citizens secure, 24/7 online access to account information
Provide dispatchers and responders alarm status information
Support mobile device access for better on-scene awareness
Continual Program Improvement
Support even the most complex alarm ordinance provisions
Adapt to ordinance changes with ease

30. What CryWolf Can Offer There is no start up cost
They do provide software to use in-house
They have an option to start by outsourcing and convert to in-house by using same software
If there’s more profit, they take out less %
If there’s less profit, they take out more %

31. The benefits to Outsourcing another Company (PMAM)
False Alarm Management Solution (FAMS™) is an effective tool for local public safety agencies struggling to contain the costs associated with residential and commercial security alarm response. Numerous public safety agencies across the US are satisfied users of FAMS™ today. FAMS™ is a total solution that provides the technology, implementation services, and ongoing operational resources to support every user.
No investment required from the city
Infrastructure costs (hardware, software, etc.) are eliminated.
City has access to numerous reports in real time to this TRUE web based solution
Education outreach to citizens increases compliance
System accuracy empowers onsite enforcement by officers
Internet convenience increases public compliance and satisfaction

32. What PMAM Can Offer
There is no startup cost for our False Alarm Management Solution (FAMS) Service, PM AM receives it revenue through the collection of any fees, fines, and permits we gather for your City. Typically, we take a minority percentage. In order to better determine this percentage, I would need to send you a spreadsheet at some to have someone collect some key alarm stats.  Through PMAM's False Alarm Management Solution (FAMS) Service, we achieve the following goals with our partners: 1)      Drastically reduce false alarms 2)      Increase revenue 3)      Provide a wonderful experience for citizens 4)      Alleviate City's administrative time spent on the alarm program  Our False Alarm Management Solution (FAMS) Service approach is made up of a totally web based architecture that includes many features such as a citizen self-service portal for permit applications and a completely web-based "back office" for the city personnel to track.  Reports are produced real time via the administrative portal with a click of a button. With our outsource solution, we operate the alarm program for you and take care of tasks associated with operating an alarm program such as education, billing/collection, and questions by the alarm holders.
We offer a software solution known as PM AM FAMS Product which is designed for agencies to operate their alarm program in-house. This solution is similar to our FAMS Service. If you would like, I can provide you more information on FAMS Product, as well. In regards to implementation of our solution, this is a fairly easy process which PM MA handles a majority of this stage, which frees up your IT staff and its resources.

36. Other Departments…Bridgeport, CT PD
Bridgeport Police uses an in-house alarm management program. They do utilize the IACP model program, they have had a 79% reduction rate without outsourcing, and an 86% collection rate

37. Other Departments…Montgomery County, MD PD
Montgomery County does not outsource their program.  They have a four person team that handles each and every alarm registration, renewal and response fee issued by the county. They do not use the IACP model ordinance. In 2013 almost 86% of alarm users in Montgomery County had zero false alarms in that calendar year.  Our dispatch rate for residential users was 0.15, for commercial users it was 0.64 and the combined dispatch rate was 0.21 in 2013.  These dispatch rates are among the lowest in the country.  The dispatch rate is the number of false alarm dispatches relative to the total number of alarm users.  This is the truest measure of false alarm reduction.  To give a better picture in 1994 when the program started the dispatch rate was 1.43 as compared to 2013 where the dispatch rate is Collection of false alarm response fees is always a priority for the False Alarm Reduction Section (FARS).  Strict enforcement of this aspect of the alarm law clearly shows that Montgomery County is serious about false alarms.  The tool that assists us in being able to have a high collection rate is the ability to place accounts, where alarm users fail to remit the required false alarm response fees, into a denied response status.  Along with the denied response status, accounts are referred to the Office of the County Attorney for collection action.  The FARS collection rate rose slightly to 91% in 2013 over 89.5% in 2012.  The suspension of police response provision in Chapter 3A, Alarms, for failure to remit false alarm response fees greatly enhances the FARS's ability to collect on unpaid bills and the above statistic bears this out.

38. Other Departments…Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC PD
Successful collection rate after adopting crywolf-        last year %        YTD % They accept appeals on fines. Their success rate for client appeals is only 7.24% Their total to date collected fees over 5yrs is $17.8 Million Their alarm ordinance is set up like this -  1,2 fees waived,  3,4,5 is $50,  6,7 is $100,  8,9 is $250,  10+ is $500 Any issues, alarm registration, appeals is handled by cry wolf

39. Providence Department of Public Safety, Providence Police Department
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