Detroit Alters Alarm Response Policy


The Detroit police department announced recently that it will no longer respond to most burglar alarms in the city.  The new "verification" policy, implemented with little notice and no public discussion, creates a dilemma for many Detroit home owners and businesses that rely on monitored alarm services because it provides little opportunity to prepare for the change.  

A concern is also raised in that the criminal community will know police will not respond to homes and businesses protected by alarm systems.  

"Our industry has been working closely with the police department to develop and implement an alarm ordinance that would incorporate best nationwide practices for managing alarms, reducing false dispatches and retaining police response to help protect citizens," said Dean Belisle, president of the Burglar and Fire Alarm Association of Michigan.  "The  unexpected policy change announced today includes provisions that most public safety officials believe puts citizens in danger, such as having home and business owners respond first to alarm system activations to determine if a crime has been committed.  Such a policy encourages citizens to place themselves at risk and in harm's way by confronting crimes in progress when responding to alarms."

Under the new policy, police department will not respond to alarm calls from monitoring companies unless:

  • The alarm company sends someone to the premises to visually verify a crime has been committed.
  • A property owner or employee responds to the location to visually verify a crime has been committed.
  • The occurrence of a break-in or crime is verified through the use of audio or video technology.
  • The alarm company reports multiple alarm trips from at least two sensors at the alarm site (i.e., a first alarm from a point of entry contact such as a door or window, followed by a second alarm from an interior point of protection, such as a motion detector.)

"The industry is sensitive to the numerous challenges facing the City of Detroit, which is why we have worked to maintain a cooperative relationship with the police department.  We have demonstrated alternative approaches, successfully deployed in other cities, that generate revenue, reduce false police dispatches and encourage proper use of alarm systems, which are a proven crime prevention tool.  It is in light of these efforts that the new policies, announced with little advance notice, came as a complete surprise to our industry," Belisle said.  

Additionally, citizens were given no choice or opportunity to voice their opinions on the loss of this core service provided by police.

It is particularly troublesome that the change in police alarm response policy came on such short notice.  A significant percentage of Detroit's population relies on monitored alarm services.  It will take weeks, if not longer, for affected home owners and businesses to become aware of the change in policy and for them to make arrangements to engage private alarm responders or to upgrade or supplement existing alarm systems to include video or audio verification capability.  It will be during this transition that homes and businesses will be most vulnerable as the criminal community takes notice that police are not responding to alarms.  

Finally, there are many disadvantaged families, senior citizens, charities and those on fixed incomes that cannot afford private response or alarm system upgrades leaving them no options.

"The citizens of Detroit have been taken by surprise by the sudden announcement of this new policy," Belisle said. "And it doesn't have to be like this.  There are viable, proven alternatives that can benefit both the city, and its residents and businesses.  We call on Mayor Dave Bing to put a hold on this policy and order the police administration to work with alarm industry experts and citizens to develop a policy that will help protect the citizens of Detroit and encourage additional economic development.”

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3