Police, city officials looking to revise false alarm ordinance

So far in 2016, the Columbia Police Department has responded to 3,736 home security alarm calls, but only 1.7% were considered valid.

“It’s a tough thing to wrangle with because there’s a public safety piece of it,” said Chief Ken Burton. “You don’t know if it’s a panic alarm or somebody setting it off on purpose because they’re in trouble. You just don’t know. We have to go.”

Burton said the number of false alarm calls slows down the already understaffed police force. The Columbia Fire Department also responds to its fair share of false alarms.

Assistant Chief Brad Fraizer said nearly all of the false fire alarms they respond to are at commercial buildings. So far this year, the department has responded to 203.

“Anytime we’re running a false alarm, we’re putting valuable resources and crews out of service and unavailable to respond to an actual emergency,” he said. “It is a drain on resources.”

Fraizer said the department always sends one truck with three firefighters to investigate the initial alarm, which does take time.

“We have a program in place where we have keys that allow us to get into the building right away without a property owner being there,” he explained. “So being able to get into a building and investigate saves time, but that’s not always the case.”

Columbia’s current ordinance says if a false alarm is generated more than three times in a 30 day period or more than 12 times in 365 days then the owner, lessee or person in charge of the property must pay a $100 administrative fee.

According to fire department records, five different commercial addresses were found in violation of the city ordinance this year. Fraizer said he thinks the ordinance is effective for the amount of false alarm calls the department responds.

“I don’t believe that it’s effective, because I don’t think there’s really any enforcement that goes along with it,” said Michael Trapp, Ward 2 Council Member.

CPD said they want to work with the city council to revise the the ordinance. Trapp said he wants to include language that encourage residents to set up security systems that don’t generate false alarms.

“If we’re creating a nuisance that’s not effective, I think it’s upon each of us to look at what we’re doing and are we helping to make the city safe.”