1-13-14 NESA Monitor

January 13, 2014

 

Association Events

• 1.16.14- NTAA Meeting
  Please join us for our next NTAA meeting! Mitch Reitman, SIC Consulting. Mitch will cover the new tax code changes and what to expect in 2014. More Info

Door to Door Sales

• Home Security Customers Targeted By Strangers
  1.10.14 – KRIS Corpus Christi News – Corpus Christi — If you have an alarm system on your home, you’ll want to hear this story. It’s there to protect you from thieves but can that very same system …More Info

Public Safety Updates

• CA: Signal Hill OKs changes to alarm rules
  1.9.14 – Orange County Register – Signal Hill Residents with security alarm systems will have fewer false alarm calls – and therefore fewer false alarm fees – after the five-member City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a protocol for alarm verifications. More Info
• KY: False fire alarm temporarily clears Lexington’s 911 call center
  1.7.14 – Lexington Herald-Leader – The 911 emergency call center at Lexington police headquarters was evacuated briefly early Tuesday morning because of a false fire alarm. More Info
• NC: False alarm fines to begin this year
  1.9.14 – The Daily Tar Heel – The Chapel Hill fire and police departments won’t start imposing fines for multiple false alarms until later this year — but right now they’re working hard to prevent having to fine people at all. More Info
• NM: Man shot by Santa Fe officer dies months later
  1.9.14 – KOB 4 Albuquerque – A 78-year-old man shot last March by a Santa Fe police officer responding to a burglar alarm in a home has died. More Info
• PA: Upper Dublin discusses parking, fire alarm restrictions
  1.7.14 – The Ambler Gazette – A proposed ordinance outlawing parking on part of Joel Drive in the Ambler section of Upper Dublin has been sent back to the drawing board, along with an amendment to an ordinance regarding fire alarms in the township. More Info
• TX: State Fire Marshal’s Office – Update
  1.10.14 – eNews – State Fire Marshal’s Office -The State Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing the process of reviewing industry rules for NFPA standard updates and other suggested changes/additions. More Info

Industry News

• C.E.S. 2014
  1.6.14 – New York Times – The International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, one of the largest technology trade shows in the world, is a reflection of the rapidly changing electronics industry. In the spotlight: wearable computers, connected cars and smart TV’s. More Info
• 5 things you missed at CES: Connected homes make life easier, fun
  1.8.14 – Pioneer Press – Connected homes and smart electronics make life a little easier. Here are five examples of what is being showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show, happening now in Las Vegas. More Info
• Six odd and crazy technologies at CES
  1.6.14 – FOX 13 Utah – Smartphones can control drones, speeding robots, cameras, and the temperature of your master bathroom. That’s… More Info
• Alarm monitoring without a landline – remodeling, decorating …
  1.7.14 – www.city-data.com – Can anyone recommend/comment on alarm monitoring when there is no landline. I am really thinking about dropping our landline. Might go to voip. More Info
• Security technology trends to watch in 2014
  1.2.14 – Security Info Watch – Industry experts discuss what lies ahead for physical security devices and software… More Info
• Professionals Aren’t Ready for Wearable Tech
  1.7.14 – Baseline – Many individuals are seeking qualities that wearable tech promises to deliver, but few of them have a clear understanding of what these products will do and how they will work. More Info
• Using biometrics in the workplace
  1.7.14 – Lexology – In the past, employees rarely objected to having their picture taken for the company’s identification badge. But in this age of technology allowing for facial recognition, photo tagging, finger or palm prints, and other biometrics even including DNA employees often resist requests for personal information to be used in connection with security or other business… More Info
• ADT Demos PC Security, Voice Control, FordSYNC App
  1.8.14 – CEPro – ADT is showing at CES 2014 a major expansion in its security and home automation offerings.  First, the glamorous stuff: Voice control for your door locks, garage door controller, lights, thermostats, security and other devices in the home. More Info
• Mandatory 10-digit dialing implemented in February
  1.9.14 – Murray Ledger & Times – With New Year’s resolutions abound, the Kentucky Public Service Commission is asking western Kentucky residents to add another to their list. More Info
• Can You Be Arrested for Not Delivering Video or Audio Tapes?
  1.9.14 – Security Sales & Integration – A Washington alarm company owner is facing felony charges for refusing to turn over video surveillance tapes to police in connection with an armed robbery investigation. More Info

Legislative News

 

 State Trends

• Nearly 2,400 state lawmakers return to session this week
  1.6.14 – Washington Post – This week marks the first wave of new sessions for the year, with 15 state legislatures reconvening. That means 2,398 lawmakers will get back to work to hammer out new policies and fix broken ones, according to legislator data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. An additional 746 lawmakers in four other states — Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania — also return to work this week, but legislatures in those states meet throughout the year. Check out NCSL’s research on this issue. More Info
• State of the States, 2014
  1.6.14 – Interactive map showing which party controls the governorship and legislature in each state. More Info
• Fiscal outlook brighter in most states
  California and New York are flush heading into 2014, while at the other extreme Alaska and Kansas are hurting. Overall, most states are in good shape—albeit with a bit of a hangover from the recession and some uneasiness about the future. More Info

National News

• US law enforcement deaths fall to 50-year low, report finds
  12.30.13 – The Guardian – The number of law enforcement deaths dropped to its lowest level in 54 years in 2013, according to a report published from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The preliminary data shows that traffic accidents were the leading cause of officer death, with 46 killed. The second leading cause of death was firearms, which accounted for 33 officer fatalities. More Info
• Dozens of Tax Extenders Expired at the End of 2013
  1.8.14 – NSBA – Dozens of temporary tax provisions—known as extenders—expired at the end of 2013 when Congress failed to extend them for another year. More Info
• NLRB Gives Up on Union Poster Rule
  1.8.14 – NSBA – Rulings this spring from two different U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals—both saying that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) cannot force employers to display union rights posters—will apparently stand. The NLRB has let pass a deadline to file an appeal on the ruling to the Supreme Court. More Info
• U.S. economy added 74,000 jobs in December; unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent
  1.9.14 – Washington Post – The U.S. economy added 74,000 jobs in December, according to a Labor Department report released Friday morning. The nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent. Analysts expected the report to show that the country had added 197,000 jobs last month, and that the unemployment rate stayed at 7 percent. More Info
• NSCA Winter Forecast Projects Modest Growth for Construction Industry
  1.9.14 – Security Sales & Integration – Cedar Rapids, Iowa — All signs show that the nation’s construction sector continues to experience modest growth and improvement in new construction, renovations, repairs and retrofits, according to the latest installment of the National Systems Contractors Association’s (NSCA) Electronic Systems Outlook report. More Info

Business Tips

• Work-Life Balance Is Definitely Not Balanced
  1.6.14 – Baseline – Americans today spend far more time on work than they do on leisure activities, and the lack of work-life balance is even more pronounced for parents. Here are some tips that can help. More Info
• The Mindset of Millennial IT Workers
  1.6.14 – CIO Insight – Many Millennials are interested in starting or owning their own tech company, and over one in four currently make money on the side as contractors or consultants. More Info
• 6 Fundamentals That Can Make You A Better Manager In 2014
  1.1.14 – Forbes ‎- Expect excellence. Set high but not unattainable standards and expect your employees to meet them. If your employees know you demand … More Info
• Six Tech Trends That Will Shape IT in 2014
  12.23.13 – CIO Insight – Personal clouds, the Internet of things and social collaboration are among the tech trends that will significantly impact the enterprise in 2014. Are you ready? More Info
• Developing strategy and critical thinking skills
  1.3.14 – Multibriefs – Critical thinking skills are crucial to advancing one’s leadership capacity, yet we pay little attention to it in law enforcement. Many officers do not even understand what critical thinking skills are. Rather than the repetitive “leadership training” found at most executive and command conferences, a step up into the more applicable skills of thinking and acting should be emphasized. Instructional learning methods should explore adaptability and decision-making in the real-world environment, an integrated learning experience that examines strategy, values and decision-making More Info

Fire News

• IL: Burst sprinkler system floods Rosemont hotel
  1.10.14 – FOX News Chicago – Nearly 300 guests at a northwest suburban hotel awoke to a fire alarm Thursday morning and were evacuated to the lobby after a frozen pipe in the sprinkler system burst. More Info
• LA: NOFD responding to fire alarm at Pat O’Brien’s
  1.8.14 – New Orleans Times-Picayune – NOFD is responding to a fire alarm at Pat O’Brien’s, at 624 Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Our news partners at FOX 8 report it is a minor fire in the duct work. As of 10 a.m., firefighters had it nearly under control. More Info
• MD: Assisted living facility evacuated in Rockville
  1.7.14 – Washington Post – Twenty-eight residents were taken to a nearby church after the incident in Rockville. More Info
• MD: Laurel Wal-Mart evacuated due to carbon monoxide leak
  1.6.14 – Washington Post – Emergency personnel found unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in the store. More Info
• MN: Burnt popcorn sets off fire alarm, forces state workers to evacuate ...
  1.6.14 – Minneapolis Star Tribune – Department of Administration spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis says someone burned popcorn in the third floor kitchenette, which set of the smoke alarm and … More Info
• VA: Landmark Theater adjusts alarm system after incident
  1.7.14 – Richmond Times-Dispatch – Theater where “Jersey Boys” opens tonight made changes to prevent repeat of occurrence when theatrical haze set off a smoke alarm that wasn’t widely heard. More Info
• VT: Movie theater open after false alarm
  1.11.14 – WPTZ Burlington – The Majestic 10 movie theater in Williston is back open after a false alarm. Saturday evening, the fire alarm went off.  Fire crews responded, but left the scene shortly afterward. The movie theater is open for business as normal. More Info
• WA: Smoke alarm saves Marysville couple as flames gut home
  1.9.14 -KOMO News – Smoke alarm saves Marysville couple as flames gut home. More Info

Crime News

• CA: Alarm foils attempted robbery of Chase Bank in Van Nuys
  1.9.14 – Los Angeles Daily News – She said that an alarm was activated, bringing police to the location, which may have also scared the robber away. The suspect was described as a black man … More Info
• CA: East Quincy business burglarized
  1.9.14 – Plumas County Newspapers – But her new store does have an alarm system. She said the sound of the alarm probably scared off the burglars before more merchandise was taken. “I got a call … More Info
• CO: Thousands in damages after break-in at Englewood High School
  1.12.14 – Denver Post – At least three people broke into Englewood High School early Sunday, causing several thousand dollars in damage to a computer room and setting several small fires, according to Englewood police. More Info
• CT: Shots Fired During Attempted Robbery at Willimantic Subway
  1.6.14 – NBC Connecticut – Police responded to a panic alarm and reports of several shots being fired at the Subway on High Street at 11 p.m. on Saturday. advertisement. A Willimantic … More Info
• FL: Man files complaint after officer kicks his dog
  1.8.14 – WESH 2 Orlando – A New Smyrna Beach man is outraged after a police officer admitted to kicking his dog in the head while responding to a false alarm at a nearby business. More Info
• FL: Man sought in $1K cigarette burglary at Orlando convenience store
  1.6.14 – Local 6 Orlando – Orlando police have released video of the culprit who broke into a convenience store and stole $1,000 in cigarettes. Police said the culprit was caught on video coming through the roof at Freddies Mart on overnight on Dec. 22 and taking the cigarettes, triggering an alarm… More Info
• KS: Police, surveillance cameras credited with catching burglar in the act
  1.11.14 – KAKE Wichita – Police say the man was attempting to burglarize the Black Diamond Pawn Shop in the 1600 block of S. Washington early Saturday morning. More Info
• KY: Burst pipe damages Lexington church
  1.9.14 – WKYT Lexington – Fire officials say the water was likely flowing for a long time before a security alarm alerted police to the break. More Info
• LA: Alarm company alerts homeowner of attic fire...
  1.7.14 – WBRZ News 2 – Baton Rouge – An equipment malfunction is to blame for a fire that sent a man out into the cold overnight. More Info
• MA: Arlington police investigate Monday morning convenience store robbery
  1.7.14 – The Arlington Advocate – Police are looking for two suspects in an early Monday morning robbery at the Peter Pan Superette. More Info
• MA: Danvers police investigating home break-in
  1.11.14 – The Salem News – Danvers — Police are investigating a home break-in that occurred early last night on North Shore Avenue. No injuries were reported. According to scanner reports, police were seeking a balding, heavy-set man in his late 40s, driving a white Chevrolet… More Info
• MD: Teen arrested for Abingdon burglaries
  1.11.14 – ABC 2 Baltimore – Police arrested an 18-year-old man they believe is behind two burglaries in Harford County. More Info
• ME: Idaho man to be extradited to Maine on burglary charges
  1.10.14 – Lewiston Sun Journal – “On Oct. 18, 2012, Deputy Matthew Noyes of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office responded to an alarm at Mt. Mann Jewelers in Bethel,” Daley said in the press … More Info
• MI: Schoolcraft Break In
  1.11.14 – WWMT 3 Kalamazoo – Schoolcraft, Mich. (Newschannel 3) – Officers responded to an alarm around 3:47 Saturday morning. Officers found that someone broke into Norma’s Antiques. The person who broke in fled before officers arrived. More Info
• MN: Duluth shooting victim’s faith isn’t shattered
  1.12.14 – Duluth News Tribune – He broke free again and tried to reach a security alarm panel behind the counter, anything to let someone from the outside know what was going on. More Info
• MS: Moss Point man accused in burglary of two residences
  1.11.14 – The Biloxi Sun Herald – Moss Point — Police arrested 21-year-old Dailan Devontaetaquan Carter of Moss Point on Friday on two counts of residential burglary, Police Chief Keith Davis said. More Info
• NC: Thieves make brazen attempt to pull ATM from store
  1.10.14 – WSOC Charlotte – Store owner Randy Cheema was upset when he arrived within minutes after being alerted when the store’s security alarm went off. He couldn’t believe the mess … More Info
• NJ: Police Investigate Home Burglaries, Auto Thefts
  1.6.14 – Patch.com – Officers were called to a Harding Street home around 1:15 p.m., Friday, after the home burglary alarm had been set off. Officers discovered that someone had … More Info
• NM: Caretaker shot by officer during alarm response in March dies from …
  1.10.14 – Santa Fe New Mexican.com – This photo, which was taken after the shooting and provided by District Attorney Angela “Spence” Pacheco, shows Officer Charles Laramie’s perspective during … More Info
• OH: Breaking and Entering Suspects Caught on Camera
  1.8.14 – FOX 8 Cleveland – Montville, OH — Montville police are asking for help identifying the suspects involved in two Verizon Wireless burglaries in the… More Info
• OH: Miami Twp. Verizon store targeted by burglars
  1.9.14 – WHIO-TV 7 Dayton – Miami Twp. police are investigating after four people used a rock to break into the Verizon store on Miamisburg Centerville Road this morning. Police said a burglar alarm sounded at the store in the 2700 block of Miamisburg Centerville Road around 6 a.m. Police were at the store within a minute of being called, and were able to determine from video surveillance that four people used a rock to … More Info
• OH: Montville Police needs help catching breaking & entering suspect
  1.8.14 – 19 Action News Cleveland – The Montville Police Department responded to an alarm Tuesday morning at the Verizon Wireless Store on Buehler’s Drive, in Montville Township. More Info
• ON: Cigarettes stolen in Oakville Hasty Market break-in
  1.8.14 – Burlington Post – Halton police are investigating following a break-in to a Hasty Market convenience store early Tuesday morning. At around 4 a.m. suspects smashed the glass front door of the business, setting off an alarm… More Info
• OR: Banana-eating burglar sought by police in Newington
  1.9.14 – FOX 12 Oregon – A banana-eating burglar struck a gas station in Newington early Wednesday morning, according to police. More Info
• PA: Burglaries up in Lower Merion in 2013
  1.11.14 – The Philadelphia Inquirer – Lower Merion For the third year in a row, the number of burglaries in Lower Merion Township rose in 2013, even as the number of cases solved dropped. More Info
• PA: Store Clerk Shot 4 Times While Reaching for Alarm
  1.10.14 – NBC 10 Philadelphia – As a clerk reached for an alarm, one of the armed suspects robbing his store opened fire, leaving the clerk shot four times. The three suspects stole money and … More Info
• TX: Smash-and-grab robbers leave expensive mess at Houston jewelry store
  1.8.14 – KHOU 11 Houston – Houston -– Some smash-and-grab crooks left empty-handed after causing thousands of dollars in damage at a southwest Houston jewelry store. The store’s owner tells KHOU 11 News it was around 5 a.m. Wednesday when his alarm company called and reported a break-in at his store, New Gehna Jewelers. No one was at the store when police arrived, however. It appeared … More Info
• WA: Police Respond to False Alarms Set Off by Strong Winds
  1.11.14 – KNDO – KNDU Tri-Cities – Kennewick, WA– The high winds Saturday tied up police with several false alarm calls. More Info
• WA: Sheriff: Suspect hiding in retention pond foiled by hypothermia
  1.8.14 – KOMO Seattle – A fleeing suspect’s attempt to hide in the cold water of a retention pond landed him in hot water with police when he was foiled by hypothermia, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. More Info
• WA: Suspected Sultan burglar picks lousy place to hide
  1.7.14 – The Seattle Times – Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies responded to an alarm around 6 this morning at the Sultan Neighborhood Recycling & Disposal Center and found a car …More Info

 

The National Monitor is a service of the National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA). Member states are free to reproduce the information contained herein in print or electronic media as they see fit. Contact NESA for more information at 301.519.9237 or bradshipp@4yoursolution.com

 

NESA is a federation of state associations established to serve and promote the electronic systems industry at the direction of, and through its affiliated state associations. Five state associations are part of NESA – Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA), Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (MDBFAA), Kansas Electronic Security Association (KESA), Arkansas Security Alarm Association (ASAA) and Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (OKBFAA). For more info visit www.nesaus.org.

 

NESA Board of Directors

 

• President – Jordon Brown
• Vice President & Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Chris Russell
• Secretary- Kathleen Schraufnagel
• Treasurer and Arkansas Security Alarm Assn. Director – Rick Howell
• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Brian Shrake
• Past President –Rex Adams
• Kansas Electronic Security Alliance Director Dan Locke
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Rick Spring
• Associate Director- Dean Coburn
• Executive Director- Brad Shipp
• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Craig Bober
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Danna Fowble
• Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Chip Bird