Verified Alarm Policy
Police Commission Policy Paper

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LOS ANGELES POLICE COMMISSION

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January 17, 2003

Dear Community Police Advisory Board Member:

Over the past several weeks much has been written regarding the Police Commission's adoption of a "Verified Response Alarm" policy.

The attached policy paper is intended to provide the community with a better understanding of the true facts in this matter. False alarms cost the City tax payers in excess of $11 million a year and waste over 15% of our patrol officer's time. But, the real concern of the Los Angeles police Department is to ensure that all Angelenos receive their fair share of protection and that our police officers can serve and respond to you quicker and more efficiently.

The "Verified Response Alarm" policy issue will be heard before the Public Safety and Education and Neighborhoods Committees on January 27, 2003, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The joint Committee meeting will be in the Council Chambers, 200 N. Spring Street, 3rd Floor. Your attendance is requested in support of this important policy change. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to share your support via mail, fax (213/473-6926) or email miscikow@council.lacity.org.

Thank you for your interest in improving police services.

Rick J. Caruso

Commission President
Encl.

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meeting previously held:

SPECIAL AGENDA
Public Safety Committee
Education and Neighborhoods Committee
for Monday, January 27

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Enclosure from Police Commission:

A POLICY PAPER

VERIFIED ALARM RESPONSE POLICY FOR THE
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT

January 16, 2003

Background. The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department have attempted to manage the false alarm problem since 1982, when the City Council adopted an Alarm Ordinance, Section 103.206 LAMC. Since then, various false alarm reduction strategies have been implemented including false alarm fines, alarm company dispatch cancellations, notification of "chronic" alarm abusers, revocation of alarm permits and alarm user classes. The Alarms Section, Commission Investigation Division, created the City Attorney Letterhead and Misdemeanor Programs in an attempt to prosecute alarm system violators and collect permit and excessive false alarm fees that had previously gone uncollected. In spite of these efforts, false alarms continued to drain and divert police resources.

On April 9, 2002, the Board of Police Commissioners (Board) adopted a Verified Response Alarm policy for the Los Angeles Police Department, and directed the Department to prepare an implementation plan. On January 7, 2003, the Board approved the Verified Response Alarm policy Special Order, and a draft amendment to the City's Alarm Ordinance, 103.206 LAMC.

Discussion. The Verified Response Alarm policy requires that a burglary alarm be verified by private guard response, remote video electronic monitoring, or an eyewitness confirmation of potential criminal activity, from the homeowner, business owner or other responsible party.

Robbery, panic, and duress alarms, and alarm activations that occur at a licensed firearms dealer are exempt from the verification requirement. Also exempted are alarm activations at any location monitored by the Department, Communications Division (e.g. City Council offices) and temporary alarms monitored by Burglary Auto Theft Division and all other City Departments.

Scope of the False Alarm Problem

Department estimates indicate that alarm response comes at a cost of $11.1 million annually, based on an average of 30 minutes per call and $85 dollars per incident.

While each geographic Bureau and Area are impacted by the false alarm problem, certain areas experience a higher volume of alarm calls.

Data prepared by the City's Information Technology Agency presents an even bleaker picture of the false alarm problem.

* This disposition information is entered into the MDT by the responding officers and captured by ITA.

Benefits of Verified Response

	Improved response times to verified burglary alarms
		Currently, alarm calls are dispatched as "routine" non-coded calls for service. The average response time to Code-30 calls is 45 minutes. Under the new policy, verified alarm calls are high priority calls for service that will be handled immediately.
	Enhanced service to our communities
		Only 6% of the population owns an alarm system, yet nearly 15% of patrol resources are expended in responding to alarms calls, more than 92% of which are false. This policy places the responsibility for determining the legitimacy of alarm calls on the alarm company and alarm subscribers- not the Los Angeles Police Department. This increased patrol time can be better utilized by police officers to address gang crime, ensure safe parks. and schools and resolve community-identified quality of life issues.

Conclusion. A Verified Response Alarm Policy will result in increased service, and better use of limited patrol resources. The Police Commission will continue to assess a fee for alarm permits, currently at $31 with an annual renewal fee of $30. Some have argued that an alarm permit fee for an alarm system for which the police will no longer respond is unfair. This nominal charge is designed to help defray administrative costs only, and does not represent cost recovery for the Department's response to alarm calls. No alarm policy, no matter how comprehensive, will totally eliminate false alarms. A current alarm permit facilitates identification and billing of a responsible party, when false alarms do occur.


Prepared by: Commission Investigation Division