At the August State Meeting in Lake Charles, we had the honor of hearing from Guest Speaker Richard McGuire, the Executive Director of the Calcasieu Parish Communications District. Richard shared valuable insights into alarm reporting in his district and offered suggestions for enhancing the efficiency of that reporting process.
Since its inception in 1989, Calcasieu has operated the first Call Center (PSAP) in the area, serving as the primary point for handling all 911 calls in the parish. This center not only dispatches emergency services for the community but also oversees most municipal and volunteer fire departments, as well as the 3rd Ward Marshal’s Office. With a dedicated team of 27 employees, they maintain five dispatchers per shift to manage the workload.
During his presentation, Richard highlighted that CAD entries at the 911 center have decreased by 7.5% since last year and 20% since 2016, the peak year for call volume. While this decline is positive, he pointed out that approximately two-thirds of these entries are classified as false alarms—meaning no actual emergency exists at the reported location. Alarmingly, the majority of false entries are related to burglary calls.
Diving deeper into the “burglary” calls from 2023 revealed some sobering statistics: out of 4,256 alarm calls dispatched to the police, only 37 (or 9%) were confirmed as actual emergencies. A significant portion of these false alarms—27% (1,157)—were due to homeowner or employee errors, while 43% (1,848) had unknown causes. Additionally, 5% (218) were weather-related, and 24% (1,033) were canceled by the alarm companies. This issue places immense pressure on local authorities, resulting in delayed response times and wasted resources, not to mention the fines levied on alarm owners.
Richard emphasized the critical role that accurate information plays in assisting the 911 center. Alarm companies must ensure they have the correct data, including complete addresses, cross streets, detailed descriptions of the alarms, and entry codes for gates and doors. Providing the names and contact information of individuals responding to the alarm, along with vehicle details, can significantly enhance the dispatch process, especially during emergencies where access may be restricted. Keeping this information current is paramount.
To improve communication and dispatch speed, Calcasieu is taking proactive steps, including implementing Text-to-911 services, which allow alarm calls to be reported via text, initiating a chat session with the dispatch team. They are also collaborating with RapidSOS, a system designed to gather key response information, verify alarms, and streamline the dispatch process.
The insights shared by Richard McGuire underscore the importance of accurate communication in emergency response efforts. By taking proactive measures and ensuring that the information provided to the 911 center is precise and up to date, we can all contribute to more efficient and effective emergency services in our communities. Let’s work together to minimize false alarms and ensure that our local authorities can respond swiftly and effectively when genuine emergencies arise.