First responders

In 2006 the Reno Police Department responded to 11,2442 alarm calls. Just 106, or slightly less than 1 percent, actually involved a crime.

Proposed increases in the fines for false alarms provide an opportunity for two former Washoe County sheriff's officers to grow their private security business.

Joe Martin, a retired lieutenant, and Rich Ross, a former captain, head Martin-Ross Investigations. The company started a contract-based program, Armed Alarm Response, to help business owners reduce the potential for fines from false alarms.

"We are all pretty much former police officers and Reno PD, so we know how to respond to these calls and we have the experience," says business manager Rob Glocken. "The officers all know us, so they know when we say something we are not crying wolf. We have been there and we know."

Reno officials are considering an ordinance that would require $25 permits for businesses and individuals who have alarms, require training for alarm users and set stiff fines for false alarms.

Steve Frady, the public information officer for the Reno police, says the City of Reno has met with alarm companies and conducted public hearings regarding false responses.

"You can see where the problem lies," Frady says. "When we are dispatching an officer, sometimes even two officers, and you have over 11,000 calls for service that do not involve a crime, you have taken substantial resources off the street for a period of time."

The proposed new ordinance would set a $75 fine for a false burglar alarm and a $200 fine for a false robbery alarm.

Martin-Ross looks to save business owners that cost with a $60 monthly service in which business owners can have their alarm company first phone Martin-Ross. It sends an employee to the scene, and that staffer can call police if the call is legitimate.

Currently the company's focus is on Reno's South Meadows so that response times are kept in a three- to five-minute range. Glocken says the Armed Alarm Response program has already proven successful in one instance. An alarm was tripped at Chloe Belle, a boutique on Double R Boulevard, and the response resulted in the arrest of a burglary suspect.

The company is quick to add, however, that the program is not focused on apprehension of criminals but rather investigation into the causes of alarms to shield business owners from penalties for false responses.

Sparks already has enacted an ordinance requiring alarm companies to phone the business owner before calling the police.

Les Adair, central station manager for Burgarello Alarm in Sparks, says the Sparks ordinance has increased the firm's paperwork, but he agrees it will cut down on false responses by police.

"A lot of times if we can get a hold of the responsible party they may know of something going on at the location that would cause the alarm. They might know the probable cause, so we wont have to call the police, and that will cut down on the rate of how many time we dispatch police to false alarms."