Burglar Alarm Task Force
Public Safety - LA City Council

CITY OF LOS ANGELES OFFICE OF THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST

February 14, 2003

Burglar Alarm Task Force

As directed by the vote of the Los Angeles City Council, a Burglar Alarm Task Force has been organized to address issues related to the policy adopted by the Board of Police Commissioners (Council File 03-0028) calling for LAPD response to home or commercial burglar alarms only when they have been verified.

The first meeting of the Task Force will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 20, 2003 at the Grace E. Simmons Lodge, 1025 Elysian Park Drive, a Recreation and Parks facility in Elysian Park near Dodger Stadium; the agenda for the kick-off meeting is attached.

Task Force participants include representatives of the alarm industry, Neighborhood Councils, Community-Police Advisory Boards, citizens and appropriate City Departments. The Task Force will focus on a number of issues, including the methods used to verify home and commercial burglar alarms, possible changes to the Los Angeles Municipal Code, analysis of burglar alarm fees and the permitting process, and concerns raised regarding the need for a balanced policy that provides for public safety and makes maximum utilization of LAPD resources.

All are invited to attend the weekly meetings of the Task Force and voice their opinions. As the work proceeds, an extensive public effort will be made as the City Council requested to ensure that all interested parties may stay fully informed about the process and have ample opportunity to offer their views. This public outreach effort will include the following:

	The City's Home Page, www.lacity.org, will offer a link to a special Burglar Alarm Task Force site. Those who visit this site can review all Task Force agendas and reports, fact sheets or other documents discussed at meetings and submit their comments and opinions for review.
	Channel 35 - LA CityView will provide viewers with information regarding Task Force meetings and "reports.
	Anyone unable to attend Task Force meetings can listen to them live by telephone. The numbers are Harbor (310) 547-2489; Metro: (213) 621-2489: San Fernando Valley (818) 904-9450, and Westside (310) 471-2489.

The goal of the Task Force is to conduct a thorough inquiry into this critical issue of the effective and efficient deployment of our LAPD resources and present its findings and recommendations to the Public Safety and Education and Neighborhoods Committees within a 60-day time frame.

Thank you for your interest in public safety in Los Angeles.