Historically, when a security or fire alarm activated, personnel at a monitoring centre had to call the 911 centre directly. This manual process could take up to two minutes per call and open the door to challenges, such as crucial information being missed or delays in response while details were verified over the phone. Now, using the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), alarm data is transmitted digitally straight into the county's Motorola Solutions computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.

St. Joseph County processes nearly 25,000 alarms annually. The automation is on pace to save the county’s telecommunicators more than 350 hours a year that would have been spent on the phone, helping them focus on high-priority calls and keeping 911 lines clear for the community’s most time-sensitive emergencies. Instead of spending time on the phone with alarm companies, dispatchers can exchange information through instant digital notes, reducing the number of calls required.

"The biggest operational impact of this integration is saving time, and when a 911 call comes in, every second counts," said Shane Anders, computer aided dispatch administrator at St. Joseph County Communications. "By eliminating the need to receive and make phone calls with alarm companies, the process is almost instantaneous. It frees our team to answer more urgent calls more efficiently."

This milestone deployment builds upon the ASAP national standard, co-created by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and The Monitoring Association (TMA), to modernise 911 workflows.

"CAD is the nerve centre of emergency response, where every second matters," said Todd Piett, senior vice president, Command Center and Cloud Solutions, Motorola Solutions. "By creating a direct, cloud-based pipeline between alarm companies and the St. Joseph County CAD system, essential information can be directed straight to the telecommunicator’s screen. We are proud to work with St. Joseph County to support their first responders when their community needs them most."