Chief Responds to ‘Alarm’ Letter

To The Editor:
I would like to clarify some points in a letter written to the editor in the Sept. 1 edition about False Alarm Fees. First, False Alarms related to storms will not be counted as a false alarm. In addition, a second legitimate false alarm will also not have a fine issued if the resident takes a short test that covers how to properly manage their alarm and avoid false alarms. (The national average is one false alarm per year) Third, ATB Services does not have the authority to raise registration fees or fines for false alarms each year; it is set by ordinance. Fourth, ATB Services does not take in a majority of the fees or fines, it collects 25 percent. Middle Township has well over 1,000 false alarms a year that could be easily prevented.
Middle Township has always had an ordinance dealing with false alarms, but with a decrease in manpower both sworn and civilian personnel, it is very time consuming to manage. Each alarm in Middle Township must be registered so we can reach people in the event of emergencies. Unfortunately, approximately only 400 alarms were registered in Middle Township out of approximately 1,000 in operation. Many times officers and dispatchers would be wasting valuable time trying to locate an emergency contact from an unregistered alarm or failure to update their contact sheet on file.
I wish we did not have to make changes in government and how we provide services. Almost all elected officials and candidates for office in New Jersey are talking about privatization, which is a form of and recovering costs for unnecessary services to off-set property taxes. This ordinance will result in a decrease of false alarms, quicker response from emergency contacts, and a more efficient use of one of the most expensive costs we have; the time of a sworn law enforcement officer.
CHRISTOPHER LEUSNER
Court House
(ED NOTE: Leusner is Middle Township Chief of Police.)