I support as written

I support the ordinance as written. The proposal only forces system upgrades on user systems with 2 or more false alarms in 12-months, and establishes a higher minimum standard on all new systems installed after July 2024. It does not require upgrade of all existing systems, and has no negative impact on system users who manage and maintain their systems so they don't have false alarms. The critical issue to be addressed is the fact that over 95% of alarm calls are false, wasting police resources and taxpayer dollars.

I appreciate the industry representatives that worked with us on the ordinance, and while compromises were made, the differing priorities between industry profits and expedient use of police resources has always meant their would be areas of disagreement. The alarm industry has always sold their service based upon the promise of prompt response by police and the tax payer has paid the cost with waisted resources for decades. This ordinance is designed to reduce waisted police time and public funds.

Thank you to SSOC Chair Omar Farmer for your work on this initiative. I am in support of this, have read the report and find this an important step forward.

My name is Steve Keefer, a National Law Enforcement Liaison for Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), a non-profit organization. Also, I’m a retired Chief of Police from Sparks, NV.

SIAC opposes the proposed ordinance only because the working group I was part of never agreed upon Verified Alarm (VR) for all new systems as of July, 2024. This group was comprised of Sean Cooke, Mike Salk, Shane Cleary all of CAA, Omar Farmer, Michael Holland & myself. The group agreed we would address chronic abusers of false alarms. We agreed ANY system would be moved to VR after 2 false alarms in a 12 month-period. This approach is proven by data, showing it is unnecessary to force alarm users to update their system when they are not the problem. Data across the country shows 86% of alarm users will have ZERO false alarms in a year. It doesn’t make sense to require the added expense of updating systems when 86% of users are not your problem. The Best Practice of addressing chronic abusers is well thought out and supported by IACP and National Sheriffs Association with their passing of resolutions in support of SIAC’s Model Ordinance which uses all Best Practices when adopting or revising an ordinance.

I would like to commend Omar and Michael for their professionalism and true partnership in writing an effective alarm ordinance revision to reduce false alarms while respecting those alarm users who are responsible and not the cause of false alarms.