GLASAA: Nonresponse in L.A. Placed on Back Burner

LOS ANGELES—The mood was decidedly upbeat at the Greater Los Angeles Security Alarm Association (GLASAA) meeting in late October as members were told that the Los Angeles Police Commission’s (LAPC) interest in requiring verified, physical response to alarms had been shelved, at least for the time being.

Despite strong reluctance from the LAPC to meet with alarm industry representatives after news of its considered adoption of the nonresponse policy surfaced earlier this year, GLASAA managed to quell the action by enlisting the law firm of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp.

The fact that Los Angeles has entered a transitional phase with a new police chief also helped the cause. However, according to GLASAA President Mark Sepulveda, it is imperative a model alarm ordinance be established before the city has another opportunity to consider verified response.

Speakers at the gathering included false alarm industry activist Bill Moody, Western Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (WBFAA) President George Gunning and Security Sales & Integration Editor Scott Goldfine.

Moody discussed the success of two-call alarm verification trials in which a dispatch occurs only after the alarm is deemed legitimate via a second phone number. He said law enforcement is showing great interest in this enhanced technique, which studies have shown decrease the incidence of false dispatches by at least 50 percent. Moody added that the industry appears to be winning its battle against the adoption of nonresponse in Delaware.

Gunning updated attendees on the WBFAA’s Apprenticeship and Training Program for Fire/Life Safety Technicians. “The program has been approved and will soon be going into effect,” he said. “I am going to Palm Springs [Calif.] tomorrow to sign the papers, but that is just a formality. I believe this program is going to provide a talented stream of young people into our industry.”

Goldfine, the event’s featured speaker, capped off by the evening with “Keeping the Faith During a Flat 2002: A Look at the Findings of Security Sales & Integration‘s Annual Dealer Survey.” Despite running late and being held during a World Series game, the session kept attendees riveted with an engrossing analysis of market statistics, financial data and industry trends.

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