09/12/1991
APPEAL TO FALSE ALARM CITATION BY
THE CITIZEN'S BANK OF CLEARWATER
September 12, 1991
10:00 A.M.
•
Present: Elizabeth Deptula, Assistant City Manager
C. David Carley, Jr., Bank Manager
Dana D. Bosson, Bank Manager
Miles A. Lance, Assistant City Attorney
Charles Dunn, Police Officer
Susan Stephenson, Deputy City Clerk
Dottie Reehling, Staff Assistant II
Ms. Deptula called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and stated
this administrative hearing: to hear the appeal for Citation
issued August 23, 1991 to The Citizen's Bank of Clearwater,
Street, Clearwater, FL 34617, for a false alarm that occurred on
Witnesses were sworn in by Ms. Stephenson.
the purpose of
Number 01919,
1130 Cleveland
April 27, 1991.
Mr. Carley indicated he received a citation in late August, four months
subsequent to their alarm sounding at their bank at 1130 Cleveland Street. He
stated they had had false alarms during banking hours, triggered by employees who
closed the vault improperly. This alarm, however, sounded at 1:03 a.m. on a
Saturday when there is no one in the bank or the building. They were called by
Sonitrol, who indicated the police were there, and the building seemed to be
secure. They did not come to the scene based on that information. He requested
a clearer definition of a false alarm.
Ms. Bosson reaffirmed Mr. Carley's statements. They believe something must have
set the alarm off.
Ms. Deptula raised the question as to whether it could be determined which alarm
or part of the alarm was involved. Mr. Lance asked if it was an external or
internal alarm. Mr. Carley stated it is only triggered when there is motion
detected inside the building.
Officer Dunn related the facts pertaining to the police response to the alarm at
1:08 a.m., finishing their investigation at 1:38 a.m. The weather was clear.
They checked the building from the exterior as they had no access to the interior
of the building. There were no striation marks, no broken windows, no broken
doors, etc. They checked for any evidence beyond the control of the alarm user
and could find none. Therefore, they issued a citation.
Officer Dunn referred to the Police Department's experience with over 5,500 false
alarms a year. They have found when alarm companies check, the find various
reasons for the alarms (bad contacts, bad wiring, bad cells, etc.. It has also
been found that employees with legitimate keys have forgotten to inactivate the
alarm, thus setting it off, and subsequently concealed this fact.
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Upon further discussion with Ms. Bosson and Mr. Carley it was noted they felt it
was possible another alarm hooked into the depository could have been the cause.
Since they did not have the alarm system checked and their particular system is
not "zoned" it is impossible to ascertain the cause.
•
•
Officer Dunn recommended they have their alarm company check their system and
look into the possibility of expanding the system to indicate the particular
"zone" involved in the setting off of an alarm.
Ms. Deptula stated, in accordance with the ordinance, the decision would be made
within ten days and the appellant would be notified in writing.
The hearing adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
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