HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1882INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1882
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 20, 2024
Page 1 of 3
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i7 Y
SUBJECT: HOW POLICE CALLS ARE PRIORITIZED, HOW MANY CALLS GO
rrn UNANSWERED, AND THE NUMBER OF FALSE ALARM CALLS
DISPATCHED
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information on how police calls are prioritized,
how many calls go unanswered, and the number of false alarm calls dispatched.
Prioritizing calls
Calls are prioritized based on threat of life and property and are categorize as:
Priority 1 — Pose an immediate threat to human life
Priority 2SS (Scene Security) -Need a quick response because of the need for fire or
medical personnel to respond
Priority 2 — Do not meet the criteria for priority 1, but by their nature require an immediate
response
Priority 3 — Non -priority and any delay sustained delay is unlikely to create an adverse
effect
Priority 3 calls are held until Priority 1 or 2 calls are dispatched
Priority 4-Does not necessitate the physical response of a police officer to the scene
Priority 6-Do not require an officer to make the scene, but do require an officer to take the
report
Unanswered Calls
All calls for service that require a police response are prioritized and placed in a queue waiting to
be dispatched. Therefore, no calls go unanswered. However, there is an exception. There are
times calls waiting to be dispatched get cancelled. Either by the original complainant or the details
of the call change eliminating the need for a police response.
Reasons for cancelling calls:
• Drunk driver or wrong -way driver no longer on view
• Loud music, barking dog, noise complaints, etc. that hold for an extended period of
time and either the citizen calls back to cancel or the dispatcher/supervisor calls citizen
back and a police officer is no longer needed
In the case of cancelled calls, a computer broadcast with information about the call will be sent
out by dispatch for officers nearby to investigate if they are available.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1882
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 20, 2024
Page 2 of 3
i
i7 Y
SUBJECT: HOW POLICE CALLS ARE PRIORITIZED, HOW MANY CALLS GO
rrn UNANSWERED, AND THE NUMBER OF FALSE ALARM CALLS
DISPATCHED
In instances when lower priority calls hold for an extended period of time because no officers are
available, or the complainant is no longer available, they can be referred to our telephone
reporting system if a police report is needed.
We receive approximately 1.2 million calls a year to the 911 Emergency Communications Center
and last year we dispatched approximately 266,000 calls to officers in the field.
False Alarm Calls
From January 1, 2024 to June 1, 2024, there have been 10,616 alarm calls. Of those, there were
only 143 reports made as a result. This is a 98.6% false alarm rate and has been consistently this
high for many years.
All alarm permit holders are allowed three false alarm calls, as well as two panic/robbery calls
before service fees are assessed. When a customer exceeds three false alarms or two false,
panic/robbery calls in a 12-month period, service fees are assessed according to the following
schedule:
• 4-5 false alarm calls in 12 months: $50 per call
• 6-7 false alarm calls in 12 months: $75 per call
• 8 or more false alarm calls in 12 months: $100 per call
Residential Security System Permits are $50.00 annually
Commercial Security System Alarm Permits are $100.00 annually.
Of the 10,616 calls, there were 418 locations that had 5 or more alarm calls. Additionally, there
were 12 businesses that had 20 or more alarm calls. Below is a break down by Police Patrol
Divisions.
CENTRAL
1461
EAST
1485
NORTH
1605
NORTHWEST
1254
OUTSIDE JURISDICTION DIVISION
1
SOUTH
2380
WEST
2430
Grand Total
10616
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1882
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 20, 2024
Page 3 of 3
i
i7 Y
SUBJECT: HOW POLICE CALLS ARE PRIORITIZED, HOW MANY CALLS GO
rrn UNANSWERED, AND THE NUMBER OF FALSE ALARM CALLS
DISPATCHED
Additional questions or information requests should be directed to Executive Assistant Chief
Robert Alldredge at 817-392-4131.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS