Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS MANUAL
SUBJECT
Alarm Response
CHIEF OF POLICE
Signature on File
Proudly Policing Since 1841 Nationally Accredited 1986
NUMBER ORIGINAL ISSUE CURRENT REVISION TOTAL PAGES
3 11/15/2001 12/24/2024 5
AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES
General Order 12, Radio Communications
General Order 18, Criminal Investigations
General Order 22, Emergency Response Driving
General Order 26, High Risk Incidents
ACCREDITATION REFERENCES
CALEA Chapter 81
KEY WORD INDEX
Burglary Alarms Procedure III
District Supervisor Responsibilities Procedure V
General Protocols Procedure I
Responding Member Responsibilities Procedure II
Robbery and Panic/Duress Alarms Procedure IV
POLICY
The Department shall establish dispatching, response, and administrative
protocols for private security alarm activations. Members are responsible for
adhering to the established protocols in the course of their assigned duties.
DEFINITIONS
Alarm Activation: The triggering of any assembly of equipment, mechanical or
electrical, arranged to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry or other activity
needing urgent attention, and to which a law enforcement response is reasonably
expected. Specifically excluded are triggering of alarms installed in conveyances
or single station smoke detectors in a residential dwelling.\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Alarm Source Location: The premises where the alarm is activated.
Alarm User: Any person or entity in control of any building, structure, or facility,
or any room or office therein, where an alarm system is installed, operated and
maintained.
CDA: Consolidated Dispatch Agency, the Tallahassee-Leon County joint call-
taking and dispatch entity. As used in this policy, the CDA also refers to Public
Safety Communications Operators employed by the CDA.
Key Holder: Authorized representative of the alarm source location.
Primary Member: The member assigned the primary responsibility to
investigate and document a call for service and provide the CDA with the
appropriate disposition code in order to close the call in the Computer Aided
Dispatch system.
PROCEDURES
I. GENERAL PROTOCOLS
A. Department members respond to alarm activations indicating the
crimes of robbery or burglary, and alarm activations indicating panic or
duress.
B. Department members do not typically respond to other types of alarm
activations, but nothing in this written directive shall prevent such
action if deemed reasonably necessary by a member or the CDA.
C. Members shall receive, respond to, and investigate each alarm
activation as if it is a true emergency until information indicates
otherwise.
D. The CDA’s use of an alert tone in the dispatching of an alarm
activation call for service is solely designed to direct attention to the
call and does not automatically require members to engage in
emergency response driving.
E. The Department does not monitor private security alarms.
II. RESPONDING MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
GENERAL ORDER 3 PAGE 2 of 5
ALARM RESPONSES DECEMBER 24, 2024\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\n\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\n\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\n