TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council Members
FROM: Kevin Burke, Town Manager
Peter Wingert, Chief of Police
DATE: March 22, 2018
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
Staff Contact Chief Peter Wingert, 480-948-7418
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AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Discussion of False Alarm Enforcement
Body
Council Goals:
Fiscal year 2017-2018 Responsiveness to Residents Goal
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends enforcement of current false alarm ordinance beginning July 1, 2018.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Police Department responded to nearly 3700 alarms in 2017. Alarm response was the number one dispatched call for service for the police department. Of police activity, it was the fourth most frequent call for service behind traffic deployments, traffic stops and close patrols. Over 99% of dispatched alarm responses in Paradise Valley do not result in the discovery of criminal activity at the scene where the officer is dispatched.
Two officers respond to each dispatched alarm for officer safety. Each dispatched alarm takes an average of 18 minutes to respond to and ensure the residence has not been the scene of criminal activity. Alarm response in Paradise Valley in 2017 was responsible for over 2200 hours of officer time. A full-time officer works 2080 hours annually.
The Town has an ordinance defining and regulating false alarms. The ordinance has not been enforced since 2012. Staff recommends enforcing the ordinance currently codified, beginning July 1, 2018.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
ATTACHMENT(S):
Current alarm ordinance (Town Code 9.3)
Current fee schedule (false alarm section)
Powerpoint titled “032218 Alarm Ordinance”