2004 FARA Public Safety False Alarm Achievement Award
Honorable Mention
Montgomery County Police Department’s False Alarm Reduction Section
Nominated By: Norma Beaubien, Montgomery County Police Department
Rationale:The Montgomery County Police Department’s False Alarm Reduction Section respectfully submits the following for consideration of the FARA’s Public Safety False Alarm Reduction Achievement Award, which recognizes a program that has shown meaningful or significant reduction in the number of false alarms over a three to five year period.
Under its current alarm ordinance structure, which has been in effect since 1994, and was fully enforced beginning in March 1995, the MCPD’s FARS has reduced the number of false alarms to which police officers must respond by 49.9%. This reduction has been achieved even while the total number of alarm users has increased in the same time period by 123%. Calendar year 2003 statistics show that the residential dispatch rate is .23, the commercial dispatch rate is .88 and the combined rate is .32, an all-time low for MCPD.
Each year, more and more alarm users have no false alarms at all. In 2003, 79.4% or 52,762 alarm users had no false alarms. This statistic, which is supported by the low false dispatch rate, is a measure of the success of the overall program. In 2003 alone, the FARS saved $1,928,790 in patrol costs, which equates to 14,301 hours and 13.75 actual work years.
In addition to enforcing the mandates of Montgomery County’s alarm ordinance, FARS staff also engage in other false alarm reduction initiatives, such as the “major offender project” which identifies those alarm users who are experiencing problems and meeting with them and their alarm companies to help identify the exact cause of the problem and to suggest solutions. This has been a highly effective program for the FARS and has been incorporated into our annual goals and objectives plan.
Since MontgomeryCounty has shown significant and meaningful reduction in the number of false alarms to which police officers must respond – and has shown further reductions year after year, the FARS respectfully requests consideration for the Public Safety False Alarm Reduction Achievement Award. Should you require additional statistical information, I would be happy to supply you with a copy of the FARS 2003 annual report. Thank you.
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