Security Sales & Integration

October 2012

SSI serves security installing contractors providing systems and services; surveillance, access control, biometrics, fire alarm and home control/automation. Coverage in commercial and residential product applications, designs, techniques, operations.

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FIND IT ON THE WEB Check out the Under Surveillance blog at securitysales.com/blog for much more from this roundtable. department has seen a reduction in the past 10 years. Technology is defi nitely allowing alarm systems to become more of a crime-prevention tool for police. I see it going further that way. I think police are going to use it more to assist them in crime prevention and apprehension. T is is a good thing because it's going to protect our communities. What pieces of advice can you off er security alarm companies for improving their relationships with responding agencies and putting forward a positive perception? McDonald: One is they can join FARA. T ey would get to come and attend a symposium, see everyone they can meet, and network with. T at would defi nitely show their commitment to false alarm reduction. If they're not able to participate on that level, then look at contacting your local police departments. Look at ways to work with them in setting up meetings for the community. It could be a joint eff ort where the police department and the alarm company, or an association if you have several companies, set up meetings and user training classes where the public can benefi t. Each FARA is primarily comprised of persons employed by government and public safety agencies in charge of working in false alarm reduction units. Pictured above are members of FARA's current Board of Directors (l-r): Brad Shipp, Amy Lowe, Mary Galloway, Pat Killian, Gerry Miller, Dave Wilson, Pam Steiger, Debbie Hansen, Kerri McDonald and Rick Moore. side would be able to benefi t in that. If you're not able to attend something that's national, start it right in your own backyard. Contact your local police department, reach out to them, ask them what can be done, how they can help reduce false alarms. Talk to them about any sites they're particularly having problems with. Hansen: Yes, contact the agencies where you currently do business and get yourself introduced so they know they have a contact. T en, say I have an issue with a resident where the alarm "Sometimes, on all sides — the industry, government, law enforcement — you still have players refusing to work with each other. But overall cooperation has increased. T e issue is meeting in the middle to fi nd a satisfying and happy medium. " KERRI MCDONALD Alarm Enforcement Unit Riverside (Calif.) Police Department Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine has spent more than 14 years with SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. He can be reached at (704) 663-7125 or scott. goldfine@securitysales.com. OCTOBER 2012 / SECURITYSALES.COM / 53 is going off frequently, then I have that contact to pick up the phone or E-mail and say, "I'm having trouble working with one of your customers; can you help me out?" Find out if there is an alarm reduction unit and usually you can fi nd that out on the city's Web site. All our information is out there as far as what I do, our ordinances there and everything else. Lowe: Just try Googling or going to a jurisdiction's Web site; if you type in "alarm unit, administrator/coordinator," usually you're going to get something. T e fi rst thing that pops up when you do mine, it comes up under my emergency services department and then there's my name and information. You can contact me. T e biggest thing is with the technology we have today it's what I use to fi nd alarm companies. T ey can use the same thing to fi nd me. Again, being involved with their burg and fi re associations is huge. Most states have one. T en there are things like SIAC [Security Industry Alarm Coalition], of course. T ere's a wealth. If you just go into Google and type "alarm, " you get all kinds of stuff . T at's a good place to start. " "alarm program," "alarm

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