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Article: False alarms: cause for alarm.
- Article from:
- The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
- Article date:
- November 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Federal Bureau of Investigation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Today's police officers respond to approximately 13.7 million emergency alarm calls nationwide each year. Ninety-eight percent of those calls are unnecessary for one reason or another. To some, these numbers may appear relatively benign when compared to other crime statistics of concern to the public and law enforcement.
In reality, however, false alarms present a serious threat to the effectiveness of police departments and to the safety of the communities they serve. Ironically, this threat stems from the desire of many citizens and businesses to protect themselves better from crime. While media reports focus on increases in violent crime, the rate of property ...