The False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) Annual Symposium, held April 14–16, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona, brought together law enforcement leaders, monitoring professionals, technology providers, and industry associations from across the country to collaborate on one of the life safety industry’s most important shared goals: reducing false alarms. Representing the Louisiana Life Safety and Security Association (LLSSA), Chairman of the Board Dera DeRoche-Jolet attended the event and contributed to national discussions on verification technology and best practices developed by the alarm industry over the past four decades.

The symposium featured 26 public-safety representatives from agencies spanning California to Maryland, highlighting the strong national interest in improving alarm response efficiency through cooperation between law enforcement and alarm professionals. Over three days, attendees participated in 15 hours of training sessions and joint industry–public safety events, reinforcing a consistent message: agencies are not adversaries of the alarm industry—they are partners working toward smarter response policies and improved outcomes for communities.

Sessions addressed several emerging issues that directly affect alarm dealers and monitoring providers:

False alarm trends and enforcement strategies
Law enforcement false alarm reduction units shared practical insight into how agencies evaluate repeat alarm locations. A consistent finding across jurisdictions is that more than 98% of false alarms originate from preventable causes, including new employees unfamiliar with systems, building changes, after-hours access by staff such as teachers or church personnel, and temporary occupants like pet or house sitters. These findings reinforce the importance of user education and system training at installation and turnover.

Self-monitored video response activity
Departments discussed how jurisdictions are beginning to regulate calls generated by users viewing their own cameras and requesting police dispatch. As DIY and app-based monitoring continues to expand, agencies are evaluating ordinance updates to manage this evolving category of alarm requests.

Mobile and wearable panic alarms
Presenters highlighted the rapid expansion of panic activation methods—from wall buttons and under-counter devices to smartphones, smartwatches, and even automated crash or fall detection triggers. These technologies are changing expectations around emergency signaling and response workflows.

Alarm billing software and ordinance enforcement tools
Updates to municipal billing platforms demonstrated how agencies are improving tracking of permits, fines, and repeat activations through ordinance-driven automation. These tools are shaping how cities manage alarm programs and interact with alarm companies.

Online payment processing risks and cybersecurity considerations
One session examined a real-world incident involving an AI-driven bot attack that generated payment processing issues and associated card-network penalties. Agencies emphasized the importance of vendor vetting and contingency planning when implementing online payment platforms—an increasingly relevant issue for municipalities and industry partners alike.

Manufacturers and monitoring providers presented tools designed to reduce unnecessary dispatch requests, including:

• Video verification platforms
• User-education tools such as FARA Alarm School
• Enhanced account setup and compliance workflows
• Software conversion strategies for agencies upgrading alarm program systems



These solutions continue to reinforce the industry’s long-standing commitment to improving dispatch accuracy and response efficiency.

During the symposium, Dera DeRoche-Jolet presented on the alarm industry’s 45-year evolution in false alarm reduction, highlighting advances in verbal, audio, and video verification technologies and the transition from legacy POTS signaling to cellular, IP, access control integration, GPS tracking, and modern camera-based verification systems. Her presentation emphasized the proactive steps alarm professionals have taken—and continue to take—to support public safety partners nationwide.

Participation in events like the FARA Symposium ensures Louisiana’s life safety and property protection professionals remain engaged in shaping national best practices. As agencies refine policies and technology continues to evolve, the collaboration between law enforcement and alarm companies remains essential to protecting response resources and improving service to the communities we all serve.