The City of Bend Police Department responds to priority and verified alarms only. Our priority alarm and verified alarm response procedures improve the use of police resources by responding to alarms that are more likely to be a priority or activation due to criminal activity. The City of Bend does not keep a database or records of locations considered priority locations. The City of Bend does not require residential or business alarm permitting, nor does the City of Bend charge an annual fee for alarm usage by our residences or businesses. The responsibility of indicating whether an alarm is a priority or a verified alarm falls on the reporting party. If the reporting party does not indicate the specific reasons why an audible alarm is a priority or verified alarm, the alarm will not receive a police response.
Priority Alarms
The City of Bend Police will respond to priority alarms without verification. The Bend Police Department will respond to alarms that generally fall within the following types of alarm activations:
- Holdup, panic, domestic violence, and duress alarms. A duress alarm is an alarm that a person intentionally activates to indicate they are under duress. This may include using a specific code number or word to indicate duress but will not be inferred from the use of incorrect numbers, words, or any other act of omission on audible alarm systems.
- Alarms at public school buildings or other government facilities.
- Alarms at law enforcement or correctional offices or facilities.
- Intrusion alarms for businesses that sell firearms or facilities that store large quantities of firearms. The responsibility to hold this information falls on the alarm service provider company, and they are required to transmit that information at the time of requesting service.
- Alarms at locations that store large quantities of scheduled narcotics, such as pharmacies. The responsibility to hold this information falls on the alarm service provider company, and they are required to transmit that information at the time of requesting service.
- Alarms at facilities we consider to be valid security threats based on reliable information. The responsibility to hold this information falls on the alarm service provider company, and they are required to transmit that information at the time of requesting service.
Verified Alarms
The City of Bend Police Department will respond to verified alarms. A verified alarm will receive a police response. Verified alarms may include:
- An individual at the scene, such as a homeowner or responsible party who is on-site and verifies the alarm is activated due to suspected criminal activity.
- A responsible party views a “live-feed video” of the location and verifies the alarm is activated due to suspected criminal activity.
- An audio verification of an unauthorized entry at the location and the unauthorized entry is suspected criminal activity.
- A call from a neighbor who can see the location and verifies that the alarm is activated due to suspected criminal activity.
- A combination of an alarm activation with additional motion and glass breakage activations. Additionally, the alarm company must have been unable to reach on-site responsible parties.
All other types of alarms reported by a central alarm station will not receive a police response without verification that the alarm is a valid alarm due to suspected criminal activity. The information we have after receiving the verification will dictate the priority of the call and the police response. If alarms are reported through the dispatch center that do not meet the specifications of a priority or verified alarm, the information will be archived as information only and generally not be shared with patrol officers.
If an officer does respond to an alarm location and if the responsible party is required to allow responding officers safe access to the building, officers will wait a reasonable length of time, normally not to exceed 20 minutes, for a responsible party to arrive. If a responsible party cannot respond within 20 minutes, the police will clear the call and respond when called back by an on-scene responsible party, if necessary.
After officers have concluded their business at the location, they may clear the scene. Responsibility for the security of the building will rest with the responsible person, or if none, with the alarm company. If no responsible party is available, the police department may utilize contractors to secure the facility or allow for other options to secure the location. Any costs to secure a facility will be passed to the responsible party.
If the Bend Police Department does respond to an alarm call and the call is found to be false, the City is authorized to bill the responsible party in accordance with the City of Bend city ordinance.
