Important Industry Update – New Threat of Verified Response

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We are seeing a sudden uptick in public safety agencies considering or implementing verified response policies. Seattle, Washington recently implemented this policy with virtually no warning to its citizens or our industry. We know that other cities have also been considering these policies which are detrimental to our ability to protect and service our customers.

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) is working directly with local and state alarm associations to combat these efforts providing expertise and background information that has convinced hundreds of agencies to avoid verified response in favor of the model alarm ordinance that reduces false alarms and continues police response to alarms.

SIAC also continues to work directly with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriff’s Association to promote the model alarm ordinance and best practices in alarm management.

The cost of fighting verified response on a local level can cost thousands of dollars in legal fees, lobbying costs and time investment. SIAC’s dual role of promoting the model alarm ordinance and helping communities oppose verified response is more important than ever.

SIAC needs your financial support to continue this vital mission.

Donate to SIAC:

  • By paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate
  • By check: Go to https://siacinc.org/donate/ for more details on donating by check

The IACP Ratifies Resolution for ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 2023 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard

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The executive committee of The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders, ratified a resolution encouraging PSAP/ECC operations by law enforcement agencies to use The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 2023 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard. The resolution was prepared and submitted to the IACP’s Private Sector Liaison Sector by Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR). The resolution was ratified in late October at the IACP’s Annual Meeting in Boston.

As written in the final, approved resolution, “WHEREAS, IACP recognizes the need to focus on the credibility of alarms received by law enforcement/first responder call centers from alarm companies and private entities through the establishment of defined threat levels as contained in AVS-01, will allow for agencies to deploy limited resources efficiently and communicate situational information to responding officers for greater officer/community safety…”

“The AVS-01 standard introduces ground-breaking methodology developed to assist public safety departments with their alarm response policies and to increase law enforcement safety,” states TMA Standards Committee Chair Morgan Hertel. It provides a standardized method for calculating an alarm score, or classification level, that results in a repeatable metric that estimates the validity or potential threat level of a burglar alarm activation using historical and real-time data. The alarm scoring assists law enforcement with resource allocation and Call for Service prioritization.

Stan Martin, executive director, SIAC, commented, “I am thrilled that SIAC successfully facilitated the approval of this resolution. This accomplishment highlights the strong trust and respect we have cultivated with the IACP leadership throughout the years.”

Learn more about the AVS-01 standard online at https://tma.us/standards/tma-avs-01-alarm-validation-standard/.
Read the full text of the resolution HERE.

ESA – TMA 10/18/24 AVS-01 Webinar Available to Stream

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On Oct. 18th, ESA hosted “Selling and Installing for Escalated Response – The Benefits of Selling AVS-01.” TMA-AVS-01 (Alarm Validation Scoring Standard), a new TMA Standard, the defines how monitoring centers and 911 ECCs will communicate the alarm level of burglary signals during the dispatch process with the goal to increase the safety of first responders and drive escalated response to the highest priority alarms. This webinar explored the current state of this impactful standard and what the future holds for sales and installation companies.

SPEAKERS:

  • Jeremy Bates, Bates Security
  • Steve Butkovich, TMA President, CPI Security
  • Chris Denniston, Rapid Response Monitoring
  • Morgan Hertel, Rapid Response Monitoring
  • David Holl, Lower Allen Township (PA)

Stream the 10/18/24 presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP9a9NEC20s&t=4s

 

October is Cybersecurity Month – Stay Safe Out There

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Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, time dedicated for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.

Over the years it has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk, and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale. October 2024 marks the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Find free resources to support Cybersecurity Awareness Month activities on CISA’s website.

Download CISA’s Resources & Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 Toolkit

 

Register to attend:

Emerging Technologies in Cybersecurity
A TMA VPR hosted by OneTel Security

Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 1:00 PM

The WASH Foundation Identified as TMA Annual Meeting Beneficiary

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Each year, TMA hosts a fundraiser to benefit a local charitable organization in conjunction with the TMA Annual Meeting. This year’s beneficiary is The WASH Foundation, an organization what aims to improve the quality of life of vulnerable populations through increased access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). To accomplish its mission, The WASH Foundation works with partners to strengthen policies, governance, systems, infrastructure, financing, and health-seeking behaviors while empowering women and underserved communities. To date, we have helped serve over 15 million people in need globally.

Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.

To learn more about the work of The WASH Foundation, visit https://thewashfoundation.org/

To donate, scan this QR code, or visit the website. Important! If you donate on the website or use the QR code, select the amount that you would like to donate and complete your information. In the “Leave a Comment†section, add: TMA

Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.

All who donate are entered into a raffle for prizes! A drawing will be done on Wed., October 7th in the afternoon. You do not need to be present to win.

TMA Dispatch, Fall Issue, Is Now Available

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The fall issue of the TMA Dispatch is now available! Login to the TMA member portal to read.

Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.Our Cover Story…With the increasing demand for advanced and scalable video monitoring solutions, the debate between Edge AI and Cloud AI has gained significant attention. Traditionally, edge devices focused on on-premises storage and video management. Members of TMA’s Technology Committee came together and drew upon their collective expertise to construct this issue’s cover story, the first of a three-part series, to help TMA members navigate the complexities of these technologies and make informed decisions when it comes to AI technology and its application.

In our Guest Column…Stephen Devine, Chief Technology Officer, APCO International, explores the decade-long discussion on the topic of NG9-1-1. In this column, he writes about the key benefits and make the case for the “comprehensively interoperable and an end-to-end solution.â€

In Technology…Cyber-attacks – you hear about them…you read about them nearly every day. Is your company of the many that remain unprepared? TMA Technology Co-Chair Matt Narowski takes on this HOT topic. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it can’t be you.

In Research…The sale of smart smoke/CO detectors is booming! According to Parks Associates, 9-10% of U.S, Internet households own a smart smoke/CO detector and more than half of smoke/CO detector owners pay for a service. Parks Associates VP Jennifer Kent explores the latest trend.

In the GSOC Column…It’s important to put your best foot forward when hiring and onboarding a new team member. Training is critical. GSOC TMA GSOC Council Co-Chair Randy Rickert shares what every GSOC training program should have.

Read these and more in the latest issue the TMA Dispatch now!

Seattle Issues New Response Parameters

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Starting October 1, 2024, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) will only dispatch officers to calls from alarm companies with supporting evidence, such as audio, video, panic alarms or eyewitness evidence that a person is illegally entering or attempting to enter a residence or commercial property. SPD will no longer respond to calls from alarm companies based only on sensor or motion activations. With depleted resources we cannot prioritize a patrol response when there is a very low probability that criminal activity is taking place.

Read the full announcement HERE.

COURT OVERTURNS FTC’S BAN ON NON-COMPETE CLAUSES. SEPT. 4 DEADLINE FOR NOTIFYING EMPLOYEES IS CANCELLED

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On August 20, the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas overturned the FTC’s recently-adopted ban on the use of non-compete restrictions in employee contracts.  The rule was scheduled to go into effect on September 4, which would have required employers to proactively notify their employees as of that date that most existing non-compete clauses would not be enforced, and no new non-compete arrangements could be imposed. The Court set aside the Non-Compete Rule in all respects, finding it to be arbitrary and capricious, and beyond the authority of the FTC (especially since the ban applied to all non-compete clauses with no attempt to identify only those restrictions that were harmful to competition and did not serve a legitimate need). Consequently, the Court made it clear that “the Rule shall not be enforced or otherwise take effect on its effective date of September 4, 2024 or thereafter.”  The FTC may appeal this decision to the US Court of Appeals, so employers will need to stay abreast of any further rulings in this matter.  But it is clear that employers do not have to send their employees a non-compete notice on September 4 (unless a higher court issues a stay of the District Court’s decision, which is unlikely since postponing the Sept. 4 deadline simply maintains the status quo).

Please consult with employment counsel if you have any questions.

Florida’s Broward County Goes Live with ASAP

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Broward County in Florida became the 147th Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in the United States and the 12th ECC in the state of Florida to implement TMA’s Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP).

Broward County went live the week of August 12, 2024 with the following alarm companies: Rapid Response Monitoring, ADT, Affiliated Monitoring, Alert 360, Brinks Home Security Protection, Doyle, Dynamark, Guardian Protection, National Monitoring Center, Protection One/Everon, Quick Response, Security Central, Securitas (Stanley Division), Tyco (Johnson Controls), United Central Control, Vector Security, and Vivint.

Learn more about ASAP HERE

View the agency’s press release HERE

 

TMA Launches Ambassador Program – Member Volunteers Sought

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TMA is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative created by the Membership Committee – introducing the Member Ambassador Program!

The Member Ambassador Program is designed to foster a welcoming and engaging environment for new TMA members. By participating in this program, volunteer ambassadors will play a crucial role in helping new members integrate into the association, maximize their membership benefits, and develop meaningful professional relationships.

Each ambassador is asked to commit to welcoming up to two new members, more if desired. The commitment includes:

  • Making a welcome and a follow up call;
  • Inviting new members to attend in-person meetings;
  • Sharing your personal TMA experiences; and,
  • Engaging in face-to-face interactions during an upcoming meeting.

Our goal is to match new members with those of similar categories; ambassadors are particularly needed from monitoring member companies.

By implementing the Member Ambassador Program, TMA aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment to help new members thrive and fully benefit from membership. Our goal is to increase both member engagement and first year member retention.

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Illeny Maaza, TMA Director of Membership and Programs at membership@tma.us.