How Police Respond to Security Alarms: Why Video Verification Matters

Law enforcement officials explain “priority response” and the importance of professional security monitoring with video verification.

Increasingly, local authorities are levying steep fines for false alarms, or they’re simply not responding to security events when there is no eye witness or video verification.

verified-responseThis reality of over-burdened police forces was made clear during a discussion at the recent International Security Conference (ISC) West 2015, where law-enforcement officials explained how alarm calls are prioritized.

“When we get a call that the operator tells us there’s video associated with a video alarm, we treat that with the same priority that we treat a crime in progress,” said Chief Chris Vinson, chair of the Texas Police Chiefs Alarm Committee.

“The calls that truly do merit a higher response, those get pushed to the top. Those get the response they need to actually make arrests. And that’s what we’re all going for.”

Today’s DIY alarm systems – even those that offer professional monitoring—for the most part do not deliver video verification to central stations.

As self-monitored DIY systems wreak havoc on emergency response services, we could very well imagine a time when police stop sending crews to alarms called in by consumers of such systems

Contact a Sonitrol Great Lakes security professional to learn more about the important aspects and proven advantages of a verified alarm system.

About Sonitrol Tri-County

As one of the nation’s largest commercial security companies, Sonitrol offers integrated security solutions, featuring a unique verified audio detection technology. Sonitrol provides businesses with a single source of state-of-the-art alarms for verified audio and video intrusion, as well as video surveillance, access control and fire detection, all backed with professional monitoring by experienced, trained personnel. Sonitrol Tri-County’s regional headquarters and state-of-the-art monitoring center are located in Grand Blanc, Mich. For more information, go to sonitrolverified.com.

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