Columbus police and fire administrators hope new rules and larger fines could help curb an increasingly large number of false burglary, fire and medical alarms that first responders are called to investigate.
The Columbus Police Department reports they had 22,239 false alarm calls in 2018, while the Columbus Fire Department reports they have had around 2,500 false fire alarm calls each year for the past three years.
Assistant Police Chief Gil Slouchik told Columbus Council on Tuesday that 96% of the alarms the police department responds to are false alarms, which results in countless hours of manpower lost when officers are needlessly dispatched to homes and businesses. Davis said the engine represents the patriotic pulse of the community and will be permanently assigned to engine 57 on International Drive.