1. ALARM PROGRAM Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD)
Presented by: Alarm Program Manager – Diana McInelly

2. OUTLINE Alarm Program Overview Factors Contributing to Success History
Purpose of the Alarm Program
What Are False Alarms?
Statistical Analysis
Current Ordinance
Alarm Ordinance Revisions

3. The purpose of the Alarm Program is to save law enforcement resources
The purpose of the Alarm Program is to save law enforcement resources. There are reasons why this is especially important for unincorporated Pierce County.
Pierce County has the largest unincorporated area in Washington State.
PCSD is understaffed compared to other cities and counties.
Pierce County does not have the same revenue base as neighboring cities.
Unlike cities where law enforcement can navigate the entire jurisdiction within a short period of time, unincorporated Pierce County covers areas from Mt. Rainier, to the King County border, to the Peninsula and islands offshore.
The false alarm problem is a larger concern for unincorporated Pierce County and PCSD than it is for smaller jurisdictions. That is why an alarm program was created in 1993 and why it is still important to have an impact on saving valuable law enforcement resources.

4. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUCCESS OF CURRENT ALARM PROGRAM
An effective ordinance that includes the best proven practices in the US;
The expertise and help of a contracted business with many employees specializing in supporting the administration of an alarm ordinance;
Specialized software provided by the contracted business, along with access to web sites for alarm users, alarm companies, and PCSD officials;
Help from South Sound 911 Dispatch who agreed to be the “gatekeeper” when alarm companies call by asking questions and not dispatching if the ordinance requirements have not been met;
Development of working relationships with alarm companies;
Education provided by the Alarm Program;
Support of PCSD leaders.

5. HISTORY – WHY DOES PCSD HAVE AN ALARM PROGRAM?
The Alarm Industry and alarm systems have existed for a very long time, but mostly for commercial businesses.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s alarm systems became much more affordable. Alarm system sales to residential customers grew tremendously.
In the 1990’s alarm companies began putting buttons on alarm panels for panic and fire causing many false alarms. They also added motion devices. The original detectors were very unstable causing even more problems. (Motion detectors are now infrared and much improved over the years.)

6. PURPOSE OF THE ALARM PROGAM
The PCSD Alarm Program was created in 1993 to address the problem of false alarms. At that time, requests for response to alarms was the number one call for service at the 911 Dispatch Center, with a 98-99% false alarm rate. The cost of responding impacted Sheriff resources.
Original program was created with the goal of saving law enforcement resources for emergencies and higher priorities and to reduce false alarm responses.
After years of evolution, the PCSD Alarm Program has become very successful in saving law enforcement resources. I’m here today to update you on our current ordinance and why we want to make some housekeeping modifications to the ordinance.

7. WHAT ARE FALSE ALARMS? Exiting more than once from the alarm site
Forgetting the passcode, entering codes incorrectly
Pet sitters, house sitters, real estate agents accidentally activating the alarm
Visiting relatives unfamiliar with alarm system or how to cancel response
Mylar balloons, falling objects, fans, etc.
Pets activating the motion detectors inside homes
Spiders building webs around motion detectors
Remote key fob panic device accidental activations (wireless technology)

8. BILLABLE BURGLARY ALARM CALLS
To gauge the effectiveness of the alarm ordinance and program, compare the number of billable burglary false alarms from 2007 (year prior to current ordinance) to the last nine years.

9. ALARM USER STATISTICS AS OF 8/31/2017

10. ALARM PROGRAM REVENUE The Alarm Program revenue covers Alarm Program costs and the remainder is used to offset general fund expenses. This revenue is not designated for a specific purpose.

11. CURRENT ORDINANCE
The current ordinance has been administered from January 2008 to the present.
The Department researched best practices and suggested modifications to the ordinance in 2007.
PCSD Response Policy: Alarm companies are required to make 2 calls attempting contact with the alarm subscriber and to have 2 alarms tripped at the alarm location before calling Dispatch, unless there is audio or video evidence of a crime occurring, or someone is on site reporting evidence of a crime. When an alarm company calls Dispatch they are asked if they have made the 2 calls and if they have 2 trips. If the answer to either question is “No” the alarm company is reminded of our policy and law enforcement is not dispatched. (These requirements DO NOT apply to robbery/duress/panic alarms.)
We contract with a company (PM AM Corporation) that was selected through the RFP process to coordinate the alarm program.

12. CURRENT ORDINANCE (Continued)
Annual permit fee of $24 or $12 (Senior 65+ or Disabled discount).
Bill for every false alarm, no free responses ($100 Burglary, $200 Panic/Duress/Robbery).
Alarm permits suspended after 3 or more false alarms within one year.
Annual registration and fee of $100 for alarm companies.
There are other service charges for various violations of the ordinance billed to the alarm users and alarm businesses.
The current ordinance takes more resources to administer. But the PCSD Alarm Program has experienced unprecedented success with the new alarm ordinance and has sustained that success over the last 9 years. The result has been a huge savings of law enforcement manpower and resources that can be used more effectively for emergencies, priority calls, and other activities.

13. ALARM ORDINANCE SUGGESTED REVISIONS
Some definitions are being updated. For example, the term ECV (Enhanced Call Verification) will be changed to match the alarm industry standard term ECC (Enhanced Call Confirmation).
The appeal procedures are being streamlined and modified to better serve the alarm user, PCSD and the contracted company. The formal procedure is being replaced with resolution by direct contact with the alarm user.
The $50 appeal fee will be eliminated.
The alarm company suspension procedures need to be modified to provide better time-line and step-by-step procedures.
Each section of the current ordinance will be compared to verbiage from the most updated ordinances to ensure improved wording.
Under Legal review. After this is complete, present to County Council for review.

14. Diana McInelly Alarm Program Manager
Pierce County Sheriff's Department
271 John Bananola Way E, Puyallup, WA 
OFFICE: (253) | FAX: (253)
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