**************************
Follow up comment on SIAC from May 19 2014 article
**************************
    I have always had trouble following Lee Jones’ reasoning concerning his comments about SIAC and the alarm industry.  So rather than address his latest comments from the perspective of the industry, let’s address it from the perspective of a property owner and taxpayer.
This year I wrote a five figure property tax check to the community where I live for a variety of services including police protection.  Since the first time I purchased a home in 1976 and today that protection has always included police response to the alarm system that protects my home and family. Like my neighbors and hundreds of people who have testified at public hearings on this issue, I am more than willing to take responsibility for paying to register the alarm or paying a fine if it goes off accidently. But like the vast majority of alarm owners we have not generated any false alarms.  That is the same opinion we have heard at dozens of public hearings on alarm issues around the country.
Some argue that alarm owners are receiving a special city service because not everyone has an alarm system. If you follow that logic then why am I paying for the public schools when my children have long since left home?
    I also know from personal experience working directly with many leaders in law enforcement on behalf of SIAC and my own practice that the vast majority of law enforcement leaders and officers agree that alarm response by highly trained officers is preferable to hiring security guards or having citizens respond on their own.  The police departments I work with have never even considered verified response or other similar ideas because they recognize that the citizens they serve value and appreciate the protection offered by a police response. They also recognize that alarm systems are one of the best crime deterrents protecting lives and property and that only a few systems cause most of the problems.
    Leaders in law enforcement and the alarm industry have also demonstrated that an ordinance based on best practices can dramatically reduce alarm responses while preserving police response. The latest statistics, from law enforcement agencies including Phoenix, Charlotte, Montgomery and Fairfax counties clearly show that 85% of the permitted systems require no law enforcement response in a given year and the next 8-9% use only one response per year. The average response to residential properties is now once every five years.
    SIAC has been a leader on behalf of the alarm industry and the people and property it protects to help drive dispatch rates down over 75% from previous levels and has established positive win-win relationships with law enforcement leaders nationwide to help achieve this positive result. 
    So the bottom line is that the vast majority of taxpayers and police officials continue to believe that police response to alarms is a law enforcement best practice and that organizations like SIAC are part of the solution to dealing with problem alarm systems or owners.  The fact is more than 99% of the nation’s 18,000 public safety agencies respond to alarms without verified response despite an almost quarter century attempt to sell this flawed idea to law enforcement and elected officials. The doom and gloom predictions that began in 1980 with the advent of verified response have proven to be untrue and when rehashed today are inaccurate and outdated. 
    Everyone is entitled to their opinion even if it is based on misguided ideas, an ax to grind or a misconception about how the alarm industry and law enforcement work together through organizations like SIAC to determine best practices. Luckily for those seeking to protect their homes, businesses, schools, places of worship and both lives and property calmer heads have prevailed in the discussion of how best to protect the public and deal with alarm issues.
David Margulies
**********************
Contract Update Notice:
***********************
Reminder - All in One forms have been updated.  Contact our Contract Administrator Eileen Wadga at 516 747 6700 x 312 or ewagda@kirschenbaumesq.com to find out if you need to upgrade your contract and whether the upgrade is no charge, discounted or full price (depending on when you purchased your contract).  The updates involve excluding software upgrades and repairs from included service, describing minimum inspection services, omitting the retention of ownership by alarm company of the Communication System.  None of these updates are essential changes, but if you've been waiting for a good time to purchase or upgrade the All in One forms now is a good time.
*************************

TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REPLY TO THIS EMAIL OR EMAIL Ken@Kirschenbaumesq.com.  Most comments and questions get circulated.

**********************************************

Speaking Engagements 

************************************************

*******************

Quick Response Dealer and Integrator Information and Technical Conference.   July 15 -16,  2014 at  Holiday Inn - Independence Ohio.  All alarm dealers are invited.   For more information, schedule and to RSVP contact Margie or Renee at reneet@quickresponse.net or call Margie/Renee at 800 462 5353 www.quickresponse.net
***************************
Alarm Association of Greater St. Louis.   September 16, 2014.  at Tech Electronics HQs office at 6437 Manchester  Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139.  Meeting is from 11:45 – 1:30  Video conference presentation starting at 12:15 CST.  For more information or to register contact Tony Drago adrago@tyco.com  www.alarmstl.org/
****************************

Alabama Alarm Association.  AAA's Fall Meeting and Trade Show - October 21, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM at DoubleTree Hotel 808 South 20th Street Birmingham, AL 35205  for more info contact AAA Executive Director: director@alabamaalarm.org  (205) 933-9000 

*********************

Electronic Security Summit for 2014.  October 22-24, 2014  at the landmark Broadmoor Hotel. Colorado Springs, CO.  For more information contact Alexander J. Quirin, CEO & Managing Partner, Advisory Summit Providers, LLC.,  (786) 999-9738    alex.quirin@aspsummits.com    www.aspsummits.com

**********************