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Verified
Alarm Policy
- FINAL
Police
Commission Approved Special Order
October 30, 2003
On July 23rd, the LA Board of Police Commissioners voted 4-1 to
accept the modified Verified Alarm Policy negotiated through the
Mayor's Office. It allows
for two false alarms per year before verification is required.
Now the Department has issued its Special Order (which defines the
policy to the command staff and rank and file).
It was to go into effect on Saturday, Nov. 1st, but before the week
was out the City Council decided to intervene again, likely causing,
at a minimum, a 30 to 60 day delay.
There were several issues of concern to City Council, all of them
outside the purview of the Department, which had followed the directions
given to it to complete the work on the Special Order on time.
Most notably, the Council has been unable to pass the required City
Ordinance that would put the Verified Alarm Policy into effect.
The ordinance is still in committee.
Other objections included concerns about the system of tracking
false alarms (although there's a usable, temporary workaround) and
of deciding if alarm users have been adequately educated.
We've tracked the process since it was first proposed, and have
reported on the actions taken by the Department, the City Council,
the Neighborhood Councils, the Burglar Alarm Task Force and Mayor
Hahn. If you wish to see the history click here:
LA's
New Approved Alarm Policy
LACP article - July 23, 2003
Here
is the actual Special Order as presented to, and approved by, the
Police Commission. It's in three parts and includes a recommendation
from the staff, a letter from the Chief of Police and the actual
Special Order:
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Board of Police Commissioners
Staff Analysis
Burglar Alarm Dispatching Policy
October 22, 2003
Issue:
The Department is requesting Board approval of a Special Order
to implement the Board's Burglar Alarm Dispatching Policy.
Analysis:
The attached Special Order was presented at an October 22
meeting of the Burglar Alarm Task Force attended by representatives
of the Mayor's Office, the City Attorney's Office, the Department,
and the Commission. The Order establishes procedures for implementing
the Board's policy of allowing two false alarms before requiring
verification for future dispatch.
The Board's current policy allows two false alarms at any
given location in a rolling year (e.g., a twelve-month period
starting with each false alarm activation). After the second
false alarm, the Department will only dispatch to a "verified"
burglar alarm at that location. A verified burglar alarm is
an unauthorized entry (or attempted unauthorized entry) that
has been independently verified. Verification shall be by
the alarm user, a person at the scene, a private guard responder
or an alarm company operator. Verification shall be based
on physical evidence, inspection of the premises, or by remote
visual inspection. A verified burglar alarm shall be dispatched
as a high priority call. Officers shall be provided information
on how the activation was verified. If verification is not
available, the alarm notification will be broadcast and filed,
if no unit accepts the call.
The Communications Division shall track false alarm activation
at the given location, and count such contacts on a rolling
annual basis. A false alarm activation shall expire after
one year, and shall be purged from the database. Representatives
from the and Department's Information and Communication Services
Bureau and the City's Information and Technology Agency will
attend the October 28th Commission meeting to explain how
they have established a database to track false alarm activations.
If approved, this policy will be implemented effective November
1, 2003.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Board approve the Department's
Special Order on Burglar Alarm Dispatching.
Prepared
by:
Rene Gomez
Police Commission
Senior Policy Analyst |
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Approved
by:
Daniel R. Koening
Executive Director |
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INTRADEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
October
23, 2003
3.3
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: |
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The
Honorable Board of Police Commissioners
Chief of Police
BURGLAR ALARM DISPATCHING SPECIAL ORDER SUBMITTED FOR
APPROVAL |
Honorable Members:
The attached Special Order is submitted for Board approval as
a result of the Board' s July 22,2003, adoption of the policy
for dispatching to burglar alarm calls.
The Special Order establishes procedures for the dispatching
of Department resources to verified and unverified burglar alarm
calls. In essence, each alarmed location within the City will
be afforded two false alarm activations within a twelve-month
period, without a change from the current dispatch procedure.
However, after two false alarm activations within a twelve-month
period, verification will be required in order to dispatch the
call to a patrol unit. It should be noted that in such cases,
where verification cannot be obtained, the call will be broadcast
over the radio frequency, allowing patrol units to voluntarily
respond if available.
This Special Order was a corroborative effort of the Department,
Police Commission staff, the Mayor's Office and the City Attorney's
Office. The new procedures will free Department resources from
responding to frivolous alarm calls while maintaining the highest
level of quality and professional service that is the cornerstone
of the Los Angeles Police Department.
I am available to provide any further information the Board
may require or you may contact Captain Brad Merritt, Commanding
Officer, Planning and Research Division, at (213) 485-4111.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM J. BRA TTON
Chief of Police
Attachments
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OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
........SPECIAL
ORDER NO.
SUBJECT: BURGLAR ALARM DISPATCHING
EFFECTIVE: NOVEMBER 1, 2003
PURPOSE: The Department dispatches nearly 136,000 burglar
alarm calls each year which constitutes about 15 percent of
our patrol workload. However, numerous studies have shown
that 92 percent of those calls are false. Several years ago,
the Police Commission decided to lower the response priority
for burglar alarms to reduce their burden on emergency services.
False burglar alarms continue to inhibit our response to emergency
calls as well as our involvement in police/community problem
solving efforts. Recently, the Police Commission reviewed
this issue and determined that after the first two false alarms
at any given location in a rolling year (a twelve month period
starting with each false alarm activation), the Department
shall dispatch only to a verified burglar alarm
at that location. This approach will provide more efficient
and effective use of our Department's personnel resources,
allow for quicker response time to higher priority calls for
service, and enhance public safety. This Order revises the
Department's procedure for dispatching to burglar alarm activations.
Nothing in this Order affects the dispatching of robbery or
panic alarms.
PROCEDURE:
I.
VERIFIED BURGLAR ALARM -DEFINED. A verified
burglar alarm is an alarm activation where an unauthorized
entry or attempted unauthorized entry upon the premises,
building, or structure protected by the system, has been
independently verified. Verification shall be accomplished
by a confirmation by the alarm system user or other person
at or near the scene of the activation, a private guard
responder or alarm company operator. Verification shall
be based on a physical observation or inspection of the
premises, or by remote visual inspection of the premises.
Note: An open door, broken window, or other activity
consistent with a burglary is considered a verified activation.
II. COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION RESPONSIBILITY. Communications
Division shall request the State Alarm Company Operator
(ACO) permit numbers when alarm companies call to request
LAPD dispatch. If no ACO number is available, the alarm
company name shall be obtained.
Note: This procedure shall apply to all Department
employees receiving information regarding a burglar alarm
activation (e.g., front desk, Area Command Center (ACC),
etc).
A.
Dispatch procedures for the first two false alarm
activations. The Department shall maintain its
current dispatch policy with respect to the first
two false alarm activations within a rolling year,
at any given location.
B. Dispatch procedures for false alarm activations
in excess of two per rolling year. After two
false alarm activations within a rolling year, at
any given location, the Department will require
verification of each subsequent alarm before dispatching
a unit. In the event verification is unavailable,
the Department will broadcast the alarm notification
and file it, if no unit accepts the call. For example,
an unverified burglar alarm call will be broadcast
and remain in the dispatcher's queue for a few minutes.
If a unit accepts the call, it will be assigned
to that unit for handling. Otherwise, the call will
be closed without assigning a unit to handle.
When Communications Division is notified of a burglar
alarm activation, it shall determine if the person
reporting (PR) observed any activity consistent
with a burglary at the alarmed location. The PR
shall not be asked to return to the
location and look for evidence of criminal activity.
Exception: Verification is not required for
a burglar alarm activation at a location monitored
by the Department or Communications Division (e.g.,
City Council offices and temporary alarms monitored
by Burglary Auto Theft Division). Verification is
also not required at premises, buildings or facilities
controlled or monitored by federal, state, or local
agencies, or the location of a licensed firearms
business.
A verified burglar alarm shall be dispatched as
a high priority call. Officers shall be provided
information on how the activation was verified.
C. Firearms Business. It is the responsibility
of the person reporting to notify the Department
when an alarm is activated at a firearms business.
Communications Division will maintain a current
list (Special Locations File) of all Firearms and
Ammunition Permits issued by the Police Commission.
Communications Division shall audit this file each
January to ensure that the information is current.
D. False Alarm Tracking. Communications Division
shall track false alarm activations at the given
location, and count such contacts on a rolling annual
basis.
Note: A false alarm activation shall expire
after one year, and shall be purged from the database
at that time. |
III. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES BUREAU
( ICSB ) RESPONSIBILITY. Information and Communications
Services Bureau shall work with Information Technology
Agency (ITA) to ensure that the proper systems and databases
are modified to track all false alarm activations at any
given location. A system shall be established to prompt
the RTO to verify an alarm activation, when necessary.
IV. OFFICER'S RESPONSIBILITY. Officers dispatched
to a burglar alarm call shall conduct an investigation
in accordance with current Department procedures (Department
Manual Section 41203.60). If the alarm is false or the
officer's investigation determines that the alarm was
erroneously reported as a verified alarm or firearms business,
the officer shall record that information on his/her Daily
Field Activities Report, Form 15.52, Mobile Digital Terminal
and Alarm Notification Card, Form 2.90 and inform Communications
of their findings.
Note: Watch Commanders and supervisors should
encourage officers to respond to unverified burglar alarm
calls in their Basic Car Area whenever possible, or when
an available unit is in the area of an unverified burglar
alarm call.
V. COMMISSION INVESTIGATION DIVISION'S (CID) RESPONSIBILITY.
Commission Investigation Division shall continue to enforce
the provisions of the Los Angeles Municipal Code Section
103.206, Alarm Ordinance, and follow-up on any alarm that
is misrepresented as "verified" or involving a firearms
business. Commission Investigation Division shall also
ensure that Communications Division is made aware of any
change in the Firearms and Ammunition Police Permits issued
by the Commission. |
AMENDMENTS: This Order amends Sections 2/170.02, 2/170.03,
4/120.40 and 4/203.60 of the Department Manual.
AUDIT RESPONSIBILITY: The Commanding Officer, Commission
Investigation Division, shall monitor compliance with this
directive in accordance with Department Manual Section 0/080.30.
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WILLIAM J. BRATTON
Chief of Police
DISTRIBUTION "D"
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