A Higher
Standard in Safety & Security
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ALARM RESPONSE
What are the main differences between First Response, Inc and the competition?
- Computerized reports for your review faxed every morning an incident occurs
- A 24-hour Dispatch Center services by 911 trained operators, with each call digitally recordedConstant Training with a Field Training Program that includes an initial 120 hours
- Officers who care about the client and take ownership in their service
- Late model sedans with reflective company identification resembling police type vehicles as a visual deterrent
- Laptop Computers mounted in the vehicles with management instructions and a property map that are brought up instantly when on the property.
Many alarm users do not know that police response to alarms is no longer a high priority. For example in Portland, Oregon it is a level 4. This level is "after all other higher level calls are responded to." In Vancouver, WA alarm calls are dispatched to patrol vehicles and if the officer does not accept the call within 20 minutes, the call disappears as a call waiting. In Seattle, WA each alarm user is allowed one (1) lifetime false alarm and then each response is billed at $125. In Eugene, OR the police no longer respond to alarms unless a private responder or a neighbor calls the police to verify that the alarm is activated and they can see signs of forced entry. Private response is a growing business and a professional company such as First Response can not only provide a personalized response service, but we can many times save our clients fine dollars and at the same time we save valuable police time so they can focus on true emergencies and then respond if there is an actual event. We are the most experienced response company in the Northwest providing peace of mind and quick response.
Armed / Unarmed Officers
Every one of the officers is trained to be an unarmed officer. Once the officer has had a successful evaluation period of 4 months, the officer has the option to become an armed officer. Each officer who decides to become an armed officer is strictly evaluated for the decision making and quick on-your-feet skills. To accommodate those clients who do not allow armed officers on the premises, we have adapted lock boxes in each of the vehicles. This lock box is a state of the art steel box that is mounted to the floor panel of the rear seat. Once the firearm is locked in the lock box it is virtually impossible to release it with out stealing the car and unbolting the box from the bottom of the vehicle. To furth secure the lock box, to electronically unlock the lock box the key must be in the ignition and on. This ensures that if an individual gains access to the vehicle, they cannot get their hands on the firearm. This has been a perfect solution for hundreds of clients.
Training Program
State licensing training that all security personnel must pass in both Oregon and Washington State. All Patrol Officers are trained for over 100 hours in a documented First Response, Inc. Field Training Program. This is in addition to the paid training that allows us to teach the new recruits how to provide the services that you want and need. This is where we can pass on the vast knowledge and experience that our supervisors have attained over several years of exceptional service. Once they pass the training, they are assigned to a specific district where they become very familiar with the accounts assigned to that area. These officers take their job very seriously since they are responding to alarms and putting themselves in jeopardy each night that they are out serving our clients. Many of these officers are reserve police officers when not working full time with us. We do appreciate their dedication to serving our local communities providing police services and supporting the regular full time police.
Emergency Dispatch Center
After hour communications with our officers is accomplished by calling one number, which immediately connects you with our dispatch center. This center is fully staffed 24-hours per day with 9-1-1 trained dispatchers, who are qualified to handle any concern that you or a tenant may have. Some companies will have one dispatcher who is available to receive calls, or have calls go directly to a cell phone or answering service. All three of these communication methods lack the professionalism of having a dedicated dispatch center. We have a minimum of two operators available 24 hours each day and a third operator on duty during the busier evening hours when the majority of our response calls are received. When an alarm or tenant call comes in to our dispatch center, the dispatcher brings up the account on a state of the art information program and dispatches it to the patrol vehicle serving that area. Calls are digitally recorded and available for review if there is a question regarding the status of a specific event. This state of the art $2,000,000 dispatch center is the envy of many other security companies. If you or your tenants have a safety concern you want it heard, understood and dealt with professionally. Our dispatchers are capable of getting this done.
RESPONSE / VEHICLE EQUIPTMENT
Patrol Vehicles
Our officers drive late model, highly visible patrol vehicles. Each vehicle is fully equipped with a laptop computer installed for nightly updates of client information, interior mounted emergency lighting, first aid kits, flares, and radio communications with our 24-hour dispatch center. Image is important not only to you, but to our officers. How they look and how they present themselves has a lot to do with their perceived professionalism. Poorly kept vehicles; vehicles not properly equipped to provide a quality patrol service or non-decaled vehicles are not a deterrent to crime nor do they represent our property managers as they should. The first thing your tenants or employee's should see is a clean, full decaled vehicle.
Computer & Reporting System
The laptop computers provide more than just client information, as they are the most useful tool to both the client and the officer. In addition to providing updated client information, it provides the officer with detailed information that is inputted as a Client Services Representative reviews each new account. The information is continuously updated as the officers and the Client Services Representative learn more about the premises, such as tenants, trouble areas, or procedures for the officers while on the premises. More importantly they provide the client with a computerized report that is accurate, readable, and written by the officer to the client. Hand written reports offer opportunity for misleading and inaccurate information to meet each client's individual demands. The clear solution would be to train officers in writing reports and offering computer generated reports with 'spell checker.'
All of the reporting done by First Responses' officers is officer generated. Whether by hand or computer, every report will be divided by the properties served and given to the individual property manager. For each patrol account, an Action Report will be done on any safety and security concern on the property. On every tenant response or alarm response a Response Report will be written and submitted, along with any Action Reports, to the client the following business day. All of this information is located and/or filed on the local servers for easy access by any of the Client Services Representatives.