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Enhanced Call Verification Reduces Alarms by 28 Percent in Elk River, MN

A change in the way the Elk River, MN, Police Department deals with alarm systems in businesses and homes is leading to fewer false alarms. 

Police Chief Jeff Beahen said they have had 28 percent fewer false alarm calls for the first 10 months of 2009 when compared to the same period a year ago. 

There were 553 false alarms through Nov. 2 of this year, compared to 763 at this time a year ago. 

Beahen attributes the drop to a new alarm ordinance adopted by the city late last year. 

“Our budgets are dwindling,” he told the City Council Monday, Nov. 9. “If we can prevent our officers from having to go to false alarms, which we have a lot of, it will be very successful in reducing our costs both in fuel and hours spent driving to and from and recording these incidents.” 

The city’s new alarm ordinance has several requirements for businesses or residences that have alarm systems including:
•The alarm company is required to utilize a two-call system to verify that the alarm is not false. The first call is to the business or residence, the second to the key holder or responsible party. Beahen said these calls do not significantly delay police response, as alarm monitoring companies are equipped to make these calls in a very short period of time. 

•All alarm systems in Elk River must have an alarm permit from the city, at a one-time cost of $20. This is designed to help the police department be aware of alarm types and coverage areas, as well as key-holder information. 

Beahen said 253 alarm permits have been issued to date — 126 business and 127 residential. 

To deter continuing false alarms, there is a fine schedule. 

There is no fine for the first one to two false alarms a year. 

The third false alarm in a year carries a $50 fine, each consecutive alarm up to five is $50 each. After that, alarms 6-7 are $100 each, then alarms 8-9 are $250 each, and over 10 in a year is $500 each.