The Amarillo Police Department (APD) has updated its approach to responding to specific alarm calls in an effort to improve efficiency and reduce delays caused by false alarms, which make up an overwhelming 99% of such calls.
In 2023 alone, over 8,000 false alarms were reported, significantly hindering officers' ability to address genuine emergencies and in-progress incidents. To tackle this issue, the new policy focuses on verified alarms where unauthorized activity is confirmed.
Under the updated guidelines, calls received between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.—the department’s busiest hours—will require verification from either alarm companies or property owners using tools like live-feed video surveillance. If credible evidence of unauthorized activity is provided, officers will be dispatched.
“When there’s video or someone on the scene who verifies there’s a person who shouldn’t be there, we’ll respond to those alarms,” said Amarillo Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld. He emphasized the department's goal of catching more burglars by prioritizing alarms with credible evidence over those likely caused by animals, wind, or other non-emergency factors.
