March 29, 2011

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Comment

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It is common in security business to use terminology like: "Central Station police dispatch". We need to change that. We do not "dispatch" police. That would make us liable for false alarm fines. We merely report possible crime to the authorities. We have no control over the authorities. If they won't go, we can't "dispatch" them or make them go.

We need to emphasize that we provide service to taxpayers, and we report possible crime to the authorities, making their job of apprehending criminals easier. We do them a favor. Most small crimes go unreported without monitoring. This will put us in better light as security industry - not someone using public protection to collect RMR. Simple change of terminology can put you in a different light. The terms used in our business are 40 yrs old and older, unfit to correctly describe certain procedures.

Dusan

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Response

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A provocative idea [as opposed to many of Dusan's ideas which are "revolutionary"].

Certainly there have been cases where alarm companies involved in dispatching police or fire department personnel have faced exposure [recent CA fire case as an example]. There is also no question that alarm companies can't force police or fire to respond.

As long as we are changing terminology, keep in mind that alarm companies don't report " crimes, fire or possible crimes or fires"; alarm companies report the activation of an alarm systems designed to detect certain conditions, unauthorized entry; fire, etc. Some reports, perhaps those with verification of alarm signals, are mo re reliable, and may receive a higher response priority, but too many municipalities think the alarm industry is nothing but a bother and hinderance to good law enforcement. Of course that's a lot of bull. I can not imagine how law enforcement or fire departments would operate without alarm systems out there to alert them.

So Dusan may be on to something here. Are there other terms that need updating - "false alarms" sure does.