Cumberland County (Pa.) Implements ASAP-to-PSAP Program

Vector Security assisted with deployment of ASAP-to-PSAP in the county by helping conduct extensive testing prior to the system going live.

PITTSBURGH — In Pennsylvania, Cumberland County has joined a growing number of municipalities across the nation to implement automated secure alarm protocol (ASAP) at its public safety answering point (PSAP).

Vector Security assisted with implementation in Cumberland County by helping to conduct extensive testing prior to the system going live, according to an announcement.

“As the use of ASAP continues to grow across the country, Vector Security is pleased to be a pioneer of this technology,” says Anita Ostrowski, central station vice president, Vector Security. “We continue to promote ASAP’s value to emergency centers and alarm companies for the greater good of the industry, as well as for the increased safety of our communities.”

ASAP automates communication from alarm monitoring central stations to PSAPs and 911 centers resulting in faster, more accurate emergency response by delivering alarm notification information directly from the alarm monitoring centers to PSAPs via computer rather than by phone.

All pertinent data goes directly to first responders and the process takes only about five seconds. Many agencies using ASAP can expect alarm response times to drop from minutes to seconds.

“Hundreds of Vector Security customers served out of our local Lancaster branch will experience faster, more accurate emergency dispatch as a benefit of ASAP,” says Jim Lorah, general manager for Vector Security. The company says it is one of just a few alarm companies with the ability to interface with ASAP technology in Cumberland County.

Additionally, Vector Security helped develop ASAP in partnership with The Monitoring Association (TMA) and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). Vector Security President and CEO Pam Petrow served as founding co-chair of the committee; the company was the first to debut ASAP in Richmond, Virginia in 2012.

The use of ASAP results in the following benefits for monitored alarm users and first responders:

  • Less phone calls to emergency response centers. Alarm monitoring center data is passed to PSAPs / 911 operators electronically within seconds and then provided to first responders upon dispatch.
  • Quicker processing times. Data doesn’t have to be input manually or communicated verbally, resulting in reduced hold times and faster responses.
  • Greater accuracy of information transmitted. Electronic transmission of data reduces chances for errors.

“With the installation of ASAP into our system, we can improve 911 response time for Cumberland County residents or business owners who have alarm systems,” says Robert Shively Jr., Public Safety Director for Cumberland County.

To view TMA’s current list of agencies and alarm companies using ASAP, and those in the process of implementation, go here.

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!

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.

Subscribe Today!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Our Newsletters