The Calgary Police Service approved a phased-in approach to revise its current Alarm Services Bylaw, which details how and when officers will respond to alarm calls. The changes, which took effect in May of this year, mean that Calgary 911 will no longer dispatch calls on “1-hit” alarm activations, where only one zone has been activated in a premise. Alarm agencies also are now required to conduct enhanced call verification where attempts must be made to contact at least two key holders prior to contacting police, according to the police service.
“All calls involving panic, hold-up or duress alarms, and any verified valid alarm activations will still be attended to by police,” noted Alison Turgeon, alarm coordinator with the Calgary Police Service in a statement.