In July 2007, the Fontana Police Department announced the start of a new
policy concerning burglar alarms that will go into effect beginning Monday, October 1. The
new program was designed to reduce the number of false burglar alarm calls caused by
Fontana PD aims to reduce the number of false alarm calls.
residential and commercial alarm systems. The directive will allow the police department
to focus specifically on crime prevention and emergencies that will save valuable manpower
hours.
A report titled "Police Response to Burglar Alarms Study: San Bernardino
County" filed by the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University, San Bernardino,
states that a quarter of a million dollars is spent annually in responding to false burglar
alarms.
"This represents a significant drain on police resources and results in
departments not being able to provide adequate attention to those calls that are of a higher
priority, especially those calls involving crime," the report states.
After extensive research and monitoring of a number of cities in California
and throughout the nation, the Fontana Police Department has put into action the Verified
Response Policy requiring more direct involvement and responsibility on the part of the alarm
companies.
"The resources we expend in responding to false alarms represent two full-time Fontana
Police Officer positions," says Chief Larry Clark.
In an open letter to the alarm companies, Fontana
Chief of Police, Larry Clark said that "The resources we expend in responding to false alarms
represent two full-time Fontana Police Officer positions" then later states, "I cannot in
good conscience continue to allow the Fontana Police Department to waste precious time and
resources chasing false alarm calls, which represent over 99% of our alarm calls." As a
result, the alarm companies will now be required to verify that there is a legitimate need
for the police to go to the scene.
According to the official news release from the Fontana Police Department, "The
Police Department will not routinely respond to the alarm unless the alarm is verified by
audio/visual, private security, or eyewitnesses." The alarm companies, not the home owner,
will be responsible for making the verification.
The new policy does not apply to panic button alarms that are direct requests
for emergency assistance from the resident. Any alarm purposely set by the alarm owner will
be treated as a high priority call and responded to immediately. The police department has
a well known reputation for responding to emergency requests in an extremely quick and efficient
manner. Homeowners for their part can make call responses more timely for the police and
fire departments by ensuring that building numbers are clearly visible from the street.
Homeowners should visually verify that their address meets the necessary
requirements as stated in Fontana Municipal Code 5-239. "Street numbers shall be conspicuously
affixed on each building located within the city. If there is more than one building on a
lot and
Street numbers should be clearly visible to assist with identification.
only one number is assigned, the number shall be posted on the principal building
or the building nearest the street." So as to make the numbers highly visible, they need
to be at least four inches tall and wide, if visibility is obstructed, the numbers need to
be posted elsewhere on the property, such as a post, where they are easily identifiable,
and numbers should be internally illuminated for visibility in darkness.
Anyone interested in reading the municipal codes further may visit the City
of Fontana home page at www.fontana.org and click on Municipal Code. The posting of address
numbers is listed in Chapter 5, "Buildings and Building Regulations." For further information
about the Verification Response Policy, please contact Captain Alan Hostetter with the Fontana
Police Department at ahostetter@fontana.org or visit the homepage at www.fontanapd.org.
