WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE WORKING TO MANAGE FALSE ALARM CALLS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is moving forward with a new program in hopes of reducing the amount of false alarms officers are called out to.
Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement with PM AM Corporation for alarm program administration services.
Sheriff Otto Hanak said the agreement with PM AM will help the county cover false alarms by registering individuals with alarm systems and addressing fines for locations that have repeated false alarm calls.
According to Hanak, the sheriff’s office responded to 446 police alarm calls last year, with 437 of them being false. So far this year, there have been 204 alarm calls, and 199 have been false.
Hanak said the average response time to an alarm call last year was 44 minutes, and is getting worse because of the number of calls received. He said there are typically two deputies who go out to an alarm for safety purposes, and the rising call numbers complicate responses to other situations.
Per the agreement, Washington County will receive 70 percent of revenue from alarm permit and renewal fees; fees for false alarm violations above a mandated limit; reinstatement fees; late fees for false alarms, permit fees and renewal fees; and alarm program management and collection services. PM AM will receive 30 percent.
Commissioner Kirk Hanath said false alarms are problematic and dangerous for both the responding authorities and the general public. Commissioner Joy Fuchs said the agreement is not costing the county any more, and will actually save it money on officer responses.
Hanak said it will be six to eight weeks before the agreement goes into effect.
Perhaps I’m missing something here? The County (Sheriff’s Dept) is contemplating a plan to share the cost of false alarms!! Why?? Shouldn’t the “provider” of these false alarms bear the entire cost? They are indeed false! Why pay anything for NOTHING??
So 90 percent of the time or more deputies are running lights and sirens to false alarms. So why don’t the alarm company have their own personal team checking out alarms that’s what they getting paid for otherwise we the people are subsidizing this enterprise. False alarms should carry and actual cost plus fine if determined by PCT JP.