Prince George’s County, Md., is the latest municipality to implement Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), a technology designed to automate communication between alarm monitoring central stations and public safety dispatch/911 centers.
According to a press release from Vector Security, electronic data transmission results in the following benefits for residents and first responders,:
- Fewer phone calls to emergency response centers. Alarm center data is passed to public safety dispatch/911 operators electronically within seconds and then provided to first responders upon dispatch to the location.
- Quicker processing times. Data doesn’t have to be input manually or communicated verbally, resulting in reduced hold times, less chance of human error and faster responses.
- Greater accuracy of information transmitted.
- More prompt action during natural disasters. It’s common for public safety dispatch/911 centers to be overwhelmed with calls during these types of emergencies.
With ASAP delivering alarm notification information directly from central stations to public safety answering points (PSAPs) and public safety dispatch centers via computer rather than by phone, the municipality expects alarm response times to drop significantly. These benefits will extend across Prince George’s County police, fire and emergency medical services.
Nearly 3,400 Vector Security customers in the county will benefit from improved emergency response times. Vector Security customers went live on March 21, followed by customers from other security companies. Prince George’s County covers 499 square miles and is the second largest PSAP to implement ASAP.
“We are constantly working to provide a safer environment for the public,” said Anita Ostrowski, vice president of central station services, Vector Security. “We’ve come a long way since being the first alarm company to introduce ASAP to Richmond, Va., in 2012, and we are glad to see the technology make its way into more communities across the nation.”
ASAP was formed following a partnership between The Monitoring Association (formerly the Central Station Alarm Association) and the Association of Public Safety, with Vector Security President and CEO Pam Petrow co‐chairing the committee.
Nationwide, others that have implemented ASAP include Bucks County and Monroeville, PA; Richmond, Va.; Houston, Texas; Washington D.C.; James City County, York County and Henrico County, Va.; Tempe and Chandler, Ariz.; Boca Raton, Fla.; Cary, High Point and Kernersville, N.C.; Guilford County, Wilson County, and Durham County, N.C.; Johnston County, N.C.; Union County, N.C.; Denton County and Grand Prairie, Texas; Morgan County, Ala.; Delaware County, Ohio; Newport News, Va.; Sarasota County and Manatee County, Fla.; Monroe County, N.Y.; Hamilton County, Tenn.; Williamson County, Texas; Dane County, Wis.; Highland Park, Texas; Collier County, Fla.; Delaware County, Ohio; Denton County and Grand Prairie, Texas; Loudon County, Va.; Missouri City, Texas; Morgan County, Ala.; and Phoenix, Ariz.
For information on the benefits and features of ASAP, visit www.vectorsecurity.com/asap.
