False Alarm Reduction Association

“Public Safety False Alarm Reduction Professionals”

Success Story

Hempstead Police Department

Honorable Mention 2004 FARA Public Safety False Alarm Achievement Award

Nominated by: Thomas J. Durnan, Hempstead Police Department

Rationale: In early 2000, I was assigned to start up a program to monitor the false alarms within our Village of Hempstead, where I have been a police officer for the last 25 years.  After putting all the alarm events into a separate database in the current dispatch system, I was able to follow the alarm activity.  I started out by sending violation letters, making phone calls, etc.  This had little if no effect.  I then began enforcing the village ordinance which states that more than 4 false alarms in a calendar year is a violation.  This of course was an ongoing process but it did have a positive effect.  The reduction of false alarms began. 

From the False Alarm Statistics I have attached, you can see that since the peak year of 1999, the number of false alarms annually has been reduced by 50%. 

	1997		1998			1999				2000				2001				2002					2003
	Monthly	Y.T.D.	Monthly	Y.T.D.		Monthly		Y.T.D.		Monthly		Y.T.D.		Month ly		Y.T.D.		Monthly		Y.T.D.		Monthly		Y.T.D.
Jan	514	514	466	466		536		536		665		665		298		298		297		297		303		303
Feb	400	914	415	881		427		963		451		1116		292		590		251		548		230		533
Mar	476	1390	474	1355		508		1471		414		1530		376		966		299		847		274		807
Apr	485	1875	460	1815		433		1904		428		1958		301		1267		288		1135		212		1019
May	414	2289	475	2290		481		2385		326		2284		289		1556		324		1459		222		1241
Jun	481	2770	500	2790		530		2915		383		2667		323		1879		268		1727		235		1476
Jul	529	3299	566	3356		604		3519		367		3034		322		2201		330		2057		266		1742
Aug	528	3827	571	3927		580		4099		366		3400		369		2570		329		2386		231		1973
Sep	464	4291	542	4469		535		4634		335		3735		330		2900		275		2661		258		2231
Oct	480	4771	489	4958		502		5136		397		4132		271		3171		281		2942		283		2514
Nov	559	5330	514	5472		474		5610		472		4604		259		3430		289		3231		307		2821
Dec	572	5902	520	5992		600		6210		467		5071		332		3762		290		3521		257		3078
Yearly Total                 # of Alarms	5981		6124			6334				5979				4452				4066				3728
Yearly Total    False Alarms	5902		5992			6210				5071				3762				3521				3078

Change from Previou s Year

+92

1.5%

+218

3.6%

-1139

-18%

-1309

-26%

-241

-6.4%

-44 3

-12%

I still make a significant number of phones calls to residents and businesses to make the alarm users more aware of what is going on.  I initiated a "Warning Card" being issued by the responding officers to every false alarm.  This is printed on bright yellow stock and provides a notification to the alarm user that the police have been there and also informs them of the law.  (see below)

I attended a FARA Conference in New Orleans in 2003.  I became certified as an Alarm Manager. I believe that was the title of the certification. 

Back in July of 2003, I formed a committee to establish a more comprehensive alarm ordinance for our village.  This committee consisted of myself, a member from the Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Civic Associations, and a member of the Local Alarm Association.  We spent many hours exchanging ideas, while having the FARA Burglar Alarm Ordinance as a document to work from.  This was extremely helpful and we did make many modifications.  I have attached a copy of our version. 

I also made inquires to the central stations which we deal with to survey the number of alarm user we have within the Inv. Village of Hempstead.  This gave us a picture of what our exposure is with regards to the number of alarm sites.  I have submitted this very comprehensive alarm ordinance to the Mayor and Board of Trustees for a public hearing.   This proposal would include the requirements for alarm permits, which we never had.  It also includes prevention measures to help reduce the growing number of false alarms.  Our current ordinance is about 4 sentences in length, and not much to work with.

 I have also attached a listing of the reasons for our proposal.  We are still awaiting another public hearing to finalize the local law.

 I truly feel that the initiatives which I have taken, have had a tremendous impact on our Police Response to false alarms and to future policies where by alarm users in our municipality will have more accountability.  This is an uphill battle, but we are off to a great start. 

 In light of my performance as described above, I respectfully request to be considered for your "Public Safety False Alarm Reduction Achievement Award."

 HEMPSTEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT

WARNING NOTICE

Violation(s) of Village Code of Ordinances

  __  Alarm Malfunction / Human Error

  ___ Alarm audible more than thirty (30) minutes

 On _____________________, 20___ at _________    A.M.    P.M.

 The Hempstead Police responded to an alarm notification at the below address:

 __________________________________________________________,Hempstead, N.Y.

 REMARKS: ______________________________________________________________

To avoid receiving a summons, please ensure that your alarm system is operating properly and occupants/employees are familiar with its operation.

“It’s The Law”

 False alarm dispatch means an Alarm Dispatch Request to the police department, when the responding officer finds no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense after having completed a timely investigation of the Alarm Site.

 Section 95-8.3, Subdivision O(2) of the Code of Ordinance of the Incorporated Village of Hempstead prohibits the transmission of more than four (4) false alarms during any calendar year that are received by the Police Department or Fire Department.  Violations of this section are punishable by summons and possible fines of between $500.00 and $1500.00.

 Also, as per our Village Code of Ordinances, an audible alarm system shall automatically discontinue emitting an audible sound no longer than 30 minutes after it is activated.

 False Alarms jeopardize the Public and the Police.

Copyright 2003 False Alarm Reduction Association

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