RICHLAND, Wash. – During its August 6 special meeting, the Richland City Council is expected to pass an ordinance aimed at reducing false alarms.
According to the city council’s agenda report, the city cites a U.S. Department of Justice report stating between 94 and 98 percent of alarm calls are false.
Data from the Richland Police Department (RPD) showed a similar trend, with less than 3 percent of their 1,459 alarm calls from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, requiring an emergency response, the city said.
Each false alarm requires about 20 minutes of police time and typically involves two officers.
Responding to these calls diverts officers from real emergencies and creates additional liability, the city added.
To tackle this, an ordinance up for adoption will mandate the registration of alarm systems, enhanced call verification and a fine schedule for false alarms.
It would also allow the RPD to stop responding to locations with six or more false alarms within a year.
The ordinance aims to reduce false alarms and help the city recover costs. Staff recommends its approval for a second reading and passage.
