What are the current statistics?

A study conducted by the Urban Institute in 2012, of which the City of Seattle was a participant, reported that at least 90% of all police alarm calls were false alarms, and less than 2% of all the alarm calls police were dispatched to were related to criminal conduct. Those results match our experience in Everett. Our data shows that in 2017 the police department had 4,966 law enforcement alarms that year.  Of those:

  • 4,322 or 87% were audible intrusion type alarms
  • 336 or 7% were robbery/holdup/duress alarms
  • 306 or  6%, were silent alarms

Of those 4,966 alarms in 2017:

  • Only 1.3% resulted in a case report indicating criminal or attempted criminal conduct
  • All others were cancelled prior to law enforcement arriving, were referred to another agency or were false, unfounded, or settled without indication of criminal activity


Show All Answers

1. What types of alarms does the ordinance apply to?
2. What is the impact on City resources?
3. What are the current statistics?
4. Would this be a new law?
5. How will these changes help to reduce negative impacts of false alarms?
6. What are the proposed updates?
7. How does this compare to other cities?