William (Bill) Moody
SSI Hall Of Fame: 2010
Current Status
Retired in 2007
Why He’s on the List
- Tireless efforts and commitment to improving the false alarm problem and building up relationships between the alarm industry and law enforcement
- Helped establish the Security Industry Standards Coalition (SISC) and Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC)
- Work on best practices, CP-01 control panel standard, single and enhanced call verification (ECV) set foundation used to reduce false dispatches
- Served on SIA’s and SIAC’s boards of directors, and as chairman of SIA Standards and False Alarm committees, CARE, and AIREF Coalition for False Alarm Reduction
- William N. Moody Award established in his name by SIAC in 2004 to recognize those who embody his dedication to alarm management issues
Keys to Success
“Teamwork and volunteerism in enhancing industry awareness regarding the very slow advance in technology and the need for elimination of unnecessary alarm signal traffic. The greatest successes were participation in the teams of volunteers who worked on the resolution of critical problems relating monitoring practices. This brought improved quality of service and cost reductions to the industry.”
Crusading Against False Alarms
“By the early 1980s dialers replaced most of the direct wire connections that had been used for decades in customers’ systems and general purpose computers were incorporated into monitoring centers. The costs of systems and monitoring were significantly reduced, generating great market expansion. From within ADT it became clear the industry’s false alarm reduction efforts were not sufficient to prevent a breakdown in relationships with municipal law enforcement agencies. Improved standards and monitoring practices were necessary to keep the industry’s quality of service at a high level. ADT had been a bit passive in industry committee work, so I volunteered.”
How Things Have Changed
“There is greater harmony in the industry today than there had been during most of the last decade. As a result the financial well being of the industry associations has improved. Looking forward, the industry would greatly benefit from further elimination of the fragmented association structure and the parochial views the structure encourages. Although the consolidation of the industry moves at a glacial rate, it is inevitable and this will gradually advance the consolidation of the industry associations.”
Wish for Industry Change
“I would require the standardization of user interface devices for small- and medium-sized security systems, both residential and commercial, and require they be mounted outside the premises but near the entrance. When the system is disarmed, it would unlock the doors; when it is armed, it would lock the doors. This could reduce unnecessary alarms by as much as 50 percent.”
Anecdote From Days of Yore
“While working at ADT I was responsible for a number of warehouses. While searching the warehouses I found documents including security equipment patents and executive meeting notes that went back in time to 1890 and earlier. Some ancient equipment was also uncovered. Ultimately, most of these ‘treasures’ were dumped.”
Reaction to Being Inducted
“I feel very humbled by the honor that is offered, particularly when I see the key industry leaders that have already been inducted, as well as the other leaders that are being inducted at present.”
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine, Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher
Scott Goldfine is Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher of Security Sales & Integration. Well-versed in the technical and business aspects of electronic security (video surveillance, access control, systems integration, intrusion detection, fire/life safety), Goldfine is nationally recognized as an industry expert and speaker. Goldfine is involved in several security events and organizations, including the Electronic Security Association (ESA), Security Industry Association (SIA), Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA), ASIS Int'l and more. Goldfine also serves on several boards, including the SIA Marketing Committee, CSAA Marketing and Communications Committee, PSA Cybersecurity Advisory Council and Robolliance. He is a certified alarm technician, former cable-TV tech, audio company entrepreneur, and lifelong electronics and computers enthusiast. Goldfine joined Security Sales & Integration in 1998.
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