Tag: SIAC

FRISCO, Texas—Kirk MacDowell, an executive with a 39-year career as a leader in virtually every aspect of the electronic security industry, has been selected as the new Chairman of the Board for the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC).“Kirk's deep knowledge of our industry, paired with his operational and manufacturing background, is invaluable as we face new challenges and opportunities with technology,” SIAC Executive Director Stan Martin said in the announcement. “Kirk's...

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.—California Gov. Jerry Brown on July 31 signed AB 1616 by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian into law, bringing false alarm fines to the alarm permit holders, not alarm companies, unless the alarm company is responsible.“This bill would prohibit an alarm company operator or an alarm agent from being liable for civil penalties and fines assessed by a city, county, or city and county for false alarms not attributed to alarm company operator error, improper installation of...

Here at Security Systems News, we cover a variety of topics related to the physical security industry. As a result, we get to track trends in the industry; we see when they first come up and we see when they become more prevalent. The matter of false alarms is one that I can say I've been watching since I started with SSN. Some municipalities have sought to fine alarm companies for users' false alarms. In late 2014, shortly after I joined the publication, I was speaking with the Security Industry...

FRISCO, Texas—The Security Industry Alarm Coalition, a non-profit organization that works to reduce false alarms and maintain relationships between the alarm industry and law enforcement, was recognized as the 2017 ESA Gives Back beneficiary at this year's ESX.“We're just really thankful and honored that ESA chose us,” Stan Martin, SIAC's executive director, told Security Systems News. ESA formally announced SIAC as the 2017 beneficiary at ESX. The coalition has received new pledges...

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—More law enforcement organizations are recognizing the benefit of alarm verification; the California Police Chiefs Association board of directors adopted a resolution at its annual meeting that clarifies the term “verified alarm” and supports priority response.“[This resolution] defines a verified alarm as a probable crime in progress and [is] very supportive in promoting priority response to those verified alarms as a way to reduce crime and make arrests...

FRISCO, Texas—Bob Pence, a 30-year veteran of the FBI, joined the Security Industry Alarm Coalition on Nov. 1. “Though his primary focus for SIAC will be Colorado, where he resides, he has a vast network of law enforcement contacts, expanding and enhancing those that Glen Mowrey brings to us. As with retired chiefs Tom Sweeney and Chuck Brobeck, Bob will act as a SIAC representative for select opportunities,” SIAC wrote in its blog.

New Orleans is looking at outsourcing its false alarm fine management and collections to CryWolf False Alarm Solution from Maryland-based Public Safety Corp, according to a report from The Times - Picayune for Greater New Orleans. This particularly interested me because, just last week, I spoke with SIAC's executive director, Stan Martin, about the process of automating false alarm fine collections, following a report that Pittsburgh was considering it. When talking with Martin he said it was a great...

PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh is looking at automating collections for false alarm fines, according to a recent NPR report.Stan Martin, SIAC executive director, told Security Systems News that automating collections, or outsourcing the task to a separate company, is not a new idea. “SIAC's taken the position for many years that one of the best solutions for some of these municipalities is to outsource the collection of the fees and fines.”“We … recommend it because we know it's...

In October, the City of Chico, Calif., passed an ordinance to fine alarm companies for false alarm dispatches. The California Alarm Association and SIAC responded, citing precedence in Fontana, Calif., where a similar ordinance was overturned. Now, the City of Chico has opted toward the standard action of fining alarm users for false alarms. Jon Sargent in November told Security Systems News that SIAC remained available to help revise the ordinance. SIAC is pleased with the outcome, Stan Martin,...

FRISCO, Texas—SIAC on Feb. 9 started working with Stateside Associates, a state and local government affairs firm, to monitor pending ordinances that could affect the security industry.“For us, it's more of a safety net to ensure that we're able to effectively work with [potential] jurisdictions” before they pass a harmful ordinance instead of after, Stan Martin, executive director for SIAC told Security Systems News.Stateside Associates will search for relevant developments in...