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False Alarm Reduction Achievement Award
Winner
Vector Security, Inc.
Nominated by: Sue Clark, Marilynne Shifflett, and Norma Beaubien, Staff, MCPD FARS
Rationale: In approximately September 2004, Vector Security, Inc., a regional alarm company serving the Washington-Metropolitan area, as well as others, voluntarily implemented Enhanced Call Verification for their customers. ECV is an initiative whereby the monitoring company attempts to verify the validity of an alarm signal prior to requesting public safety dispatch by first placing a call to the site, and if no contact is made, a second call, usually the cell phone of a responsible party, is made to try to determine if a dispatch is necessary. Through their efforts, as measured by the Baltimore, Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County alarm reduction units, they reduced false alarm dispatches by an average of 30% in one year. The chart below reflects the significant reductions, as well as false dispatch rate reductions and savings to their customers.
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Before
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After
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Reduction
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BaltimoreCounty
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· Period for Statistics
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10/1/03 through 9/30/04
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10/1/04 through 9/30/05
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· Vector Security, Inc. Customers
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2416
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2617
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· Number of False Alarms
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639
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437
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-31.6%
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· Dispatch Rate
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26.5%
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16.7%
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-37.0%
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· Fees/Fines Collected
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$1,300
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$950
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-$350 (-26.9%)
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CharlesCounty, Maryland
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· Period for Statistics
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1/1/04 through 9/30/04
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1/1/05 through 9/30/05
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· Vector Security, Inc. Customers
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816
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863
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· Number of False Alarms
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290
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198
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-31.7%
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· Dispatch Rate
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35.5%
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22.9%
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-35.5%
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· Fees/Fines Collected
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$23,175
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$8,990
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-$14,185 (-61.2%)
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Montgomery County, Maryland
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· Period for Statistics
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10/1/03 through 9/30/04
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10/1/04 through 9/30/05
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· Vector Security, Inc. Customers
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3262
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3055
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· Number of False Alarms
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972
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647
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-33.4%
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· Dispatch Rate
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30.0%
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21.0%
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-30.0%
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· Fees/Fines Collected
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$17,250
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$10,825
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-$6,425 (-37.2%)
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Prince George’s County, Maryland
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· Period for Statistics
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1/1/04 through 9/30/04
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1/1/05 through 9/30/05
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· Vector Security, Inc. Customers
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5299
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5626
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· Number of False Alarms
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1482
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1195
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-19.4%
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· Dispatch Rate
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28.0%
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21.2%
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-24.3%
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· Fees/Fines Collected
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$17,750
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$16,550
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-$1,200 (-6.8%)
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In addition to voluntary implementation of ECV, Vector Security, Inc., has developed an integrated approach to alarm management, which involves every facet of the company. Sales, installation, service, monitoring and management all bear responsibility for seeking and implementing solutions. Vector’s false alarm reduction program, which has been in place for several years, includes internal and external training, counseling top offenders, inspecting system design, user training periods, and the use of control panels that are compliant with the ANSI/SIA Control Panel standard (CP-01).
Vector Security, Inc. has created an environment within their company, which requires everyone to make the reduction of false alarms a priority. Their success in this endeavor over the past several years shows that they have been extremely successful in reaching their goal, which, in turn, reduces the burden false alarms place on public safety agencies. It is for these reasons that we respectfully nominate Vector Security, Inc. for the FARA Industry Achievement Award.
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