Bay Area City May Hire Contractor to Handle False Alarm Fines
The Vallejo Police Department wants to contract out the supervision of more than 6,000 false alarms a year as the city council deliberates the proposal.
Police estimate about 97 percent of the alarms they respond to annually are false, and eat up about 11 percent of officers’ time, according to the Times-Herald. In 2007, the city began charging residents and business owners a fee after false alarms rose in volume.
Since then, the department only has managed to collect about 41 percent of about $340,000 in fees due the city for the false alarms annually, the newspaper reported.
Vallejo Police Chief Robert Nichelini wants to hire false alarm management company CryWolf False Alarm Solutions to step up efforts to enforce the ordinance, according to the newspaper.
The company would take over for already overloaded communications department personnel, and be paid out of the fees collected, rather than with an up-front cost, department Support Services Coordinator Bill Powell told the newspaper. The proposed one-year contract includes an option to renew if it proves successful in bringing more revenue to the city and/or reducing false alarm calls, he said.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
