The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has officially launched ASAP (Automated Secure Alarm Protocol) Service, a digital alarm system that automates the exchange of alarm information between alarm-monitoring companies and emergency communications centers (ECCs).
This milestone reflects HCSO’s ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety operations and supporting its emergency communications staff.
By automating alarm data exchange through ASAP Service, HCSO aims to reduce repetitive, time-consuming interactions between alarm-monitoring companies and telecommunicators — freeing staff to handle higher-priority 911 calls and addressing the staffing challenges faced by ECCs nationwide.
“Our telecommunicators handle hundreds of thousands of calls every year, and alarm activations alone can involve multiple back-and-forth calls for a single event,” said Tony Martin, HCSO Director of Emergency Communications.
“By implementing ASAP Service, we’re streamlining that process, improving accuracy, and helping responders get to the scene faster.”
Developed by The Monitoring Association (TMA), ASAP was designed to reduce the impact of alarm notifications that typically arrive via nonemergency lines. The service allows alarm-monitoring companies to send alarm event data directly into the ECC’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system — eliminating manual calls, minimizing transcription errors, reducing response times, and improving situational awareness through photos, video links, and attachments.
From Planning to Launch in Just Four Months
The implementation of ASAP Service was completed in just over four months, underscoring HCSO’s dedication to adopting innovative technologies that reduce the strain on ECC personnel.
Each year, HCSO handles 650,000 to 700,000 emergency and nonemergency calls, including roughly 300,000 emergency (911) calls. Of those, approximately 20,000 are alarm-related.
“Many of our neighboring agencies that launched ASAP Service have seen great results,” Martin added.
“We’re proud to bring this innovation to HCSO as part of our broader effort to reduce telecommunicator workload, improve staff retention, and continue modernizing how we serve our community.”
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is responsible for law enforcement and public safety services in Minnesota’s most populous county, home to nearly 1.3 million residents.
Read: Wavestore Launches v6.44 to Improve Security Operations
About The Monitoring Association
The Monitoring Association (TMA), formerly the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), is a global nonprofit representing professional monitoring companies, integrators, and security service providers. Since 1950, TMA has advocated for industry standards, representing members before government and regulatory bodies.
Learn more at https://tma.us/about-tma/.
About TMA’s ASAP Service
Launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, TMA’s Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) Service streamlines dispatching by electronically sending emergency calls from alarm companies to PSAPs and ECCs. Using ANSI standard protocols developed with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), ASAP enhances accuracy, efficiency, and response speed for law enforcement and emergency responders.
Source: hennepinsheriff.org