Reclaiming Public Safety Resources: The Untapped Power of Smarter Alarm Management

False alarms may seem harmless (to citizens), but over time, they drain public safety resources. Whenever officers or firefighters respond to a false call, valuable time and resources are wasted.

False alarms pull personnel away from real emergencies and increase response times. They create fatigue among first responders – many of whom already struggle with burnout.

According to the Urban Institute, approximately 90–99% of calls from security systems and panic alarms aren’t real emergencies. Traditional public safety systems and processes simply can’t keep up with the demands (and challenges) of modern alarm systems.

False alarms cost time, money and effort that your agency can’t afford. Considering their frequency, it’s clear that public safety needs a proactive, data-driven approach to alarm management. Keep reading to discover the real cost of false alarms, as well as modern tools and strategies that can better serve your agency and community.

The Real Cost of False Alarms

False alarms come with tangible and intangible costs. Let’s start with the latter.

Repeated false alarms lead to first responder fatigue and burnout. Over time, this strain can impact morale and reduce the effectiveness of entire teams. It may also reduce vigilance and preparedness, as responders start doubting whether security alarm calls are genuine.

There are many estimates on the tangible costs of false alarms. Many articles cite the same statistic – that there are 36+ million false alarms every year, accounting for roughly $1.8 billion.

However, this statistic originally comes from a 2002 COPS report on false burglar alarms. Today, the number of annual alarm calls and the cost of false alarms is surely much higher.

Most false alarms come from security systems and smoke detectors. US fire departments responded to 2.9 million false alarms in 2018. Every time, they had to spend resources to send fire trucks and firefighters to the scene.

Responding to a single false alarm can cost a fire department $500 or more. It can cost police departments over $100. When multiplied by the number of false alarms every year in your jurisdiction, it becomes a financial burden for public safety.

Many cities and counties charge fees to recoup the costs of false alarm responses. This approach may cause frustration among citizens, who are being fined for something they perceive as accidental or outside their control. (False alarms are most commonly caused by human error, unintentional calls, system malfunctions and old or faulty equipment.)

In the modern age of technology, there has to be a better solution.

Why Alarm Management Needs a Modern Strategy

Traditionally, agencies manage alarm-related calls with manual, time-consuming processes. When an alarm is triggered, dispatchers log the event, send responders and later try to verify the incident. Fines or enforcement actions, if issued, are tracked separately – sometimes on paper or in siloed systems.

This approach creates inefficiencies, with limited data visibility, delayed enforcement and no easy way to spot repeat offenders or trends. It also doesn’t scale to meet the rising volume of calls.

As security systems become more advanced and accessible, more citizens are protecting their property. In 2025, nearly 41.8% of US homes will have a security system, with that number expected to increase to 50.8% by 2029. Unsurprisingly, commercial security systems are also on the rise.

More alarm systems equals more false alarms. Without a modern solution, public safety will struggle to meet modern demands, especially with how many agencies currently struggle with understaffing and resource constraints.

By investing in a modern false alarm management system, your agency can mitigate first responder burnout and better serve the community. Today’s systems can reduce the frequency of false alarms, enforce policies, automate fee collection and provide visibility into alarm patterns.

Are you ready to reduce false alarms and save money? Keep reading to learn how.

Reducing False Alarms Without Sacrificing Public Access

Modern systems provide data-driven alarm management, which lets agencies track alarm activity, spot patterns and identify chronic offenders. This allows for targeted enforcement that holds repeat violators accountable, without penalizing responsible users.

Education also plays a key role. When residents and businesses understand how their alarm systems work, how to prevent false triggers, and how to maintain them, the number of false alarms will decrease. Agencies can support this through outreach programs, clear policies and easy-to-understand registration processes.

Between education and data analytics, your agency can achieve a healthy balance. Fewer false alarms means less strain on responders and quicker service during real emergencies.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD in North Carolina understands the benefits of modern false alarm management. Despite serving a large city with a growing population, their false alarm calls have decreased from 112,000 to 30,000 per year. When false alarms do occur, Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD sees a 95% collection rate on average. To hear their experience with CryWolf, CentralSquare’s false alarm management software, visit this page and scroll down to the customer video.

Protecting Responders and Communities

Giving Time Back to First Responders

False alarms waste time, energy and fuel that could be used for real emergencies. Every time a unit is sent to a false alarm, there’s an opportunity cost: another call might be delayed.

Modern software can reduce your false alarm responses and optimize your resources. For example, Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD experienced a 73% reduction in alarm calls by implementing CryWolf. With fewer false dispatches, their responders are available for high-priority situations.

The ripple effect is powerful. Responders stay focused and energized. Emergency calls are answered faster. And communities experience better service and safer outcomes.

Making Communities Safer Through Transparency and Trust

Modern systems help public safety agencies build safer, more informed communities through transparency and trust. With a centralized system, agencies can enforce alarm policies consistently, apply fines fairly and track repeat offenders. This removes confusion and bias from the process.

By communicating proactively with residents and businesses, you can set expectations and educate the community on false alarm prevention. We recommend teaching citizens how false alarms drain public safety resources, which can delay your response to genuine emergencies. That way, even if people get fined, it won’t come as a surprise and they will understand why. (Some technologies may even provide automatic communication features.)

When communities know the rules and see them enforced evenly, trust grows. And when residents are empowered with tools and knowledge, they become part of the solution instead of the problem.

Modern Technology That Pays for Itself

False alarms may seem inconsequential at first blush, but they slowly drain public safety resources over time. How much does your agency spend annually on false alarms? If you don’t know, it may be worth calculating.

Depending on the amount and cost of false alarm responses, a false alarm management system like CryWolf could pay for itself (with money left over). Now is the time to protect your agency and better serve your community. As the old saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

CryWolf is CentralSquare’s false alarm management system. It can handle alarm system registration and renewals, track and process false alarms, manage fees and fines, and serve as the first point of contact for appeals. As your partner, we help reduce false alarms, maximize cost recovery and compliance. Schedule a discovery call today to learn how CryWolf can save your agency time and money.