Chambana Sun

On October 7, 2024, METCAD 9-1-1 Center implemented the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP to PSAP), becoming the 148th Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the United States and the second in Illinois to do so. This system establishes a direct link between alarm monitoring companies and Champaign County's 9-1-1 telecommunicators.

Before this implementation, alarm companies had to manually call the dispatch center when an emergency occurred. With ASAP to PSAP, alarm details are now directly sent to METCAD’s dispatch software, allowing for immediate alerting of dispatch staff who can then quickly summon emergency services.

Jeff Wooten, Deputy Director of METCAD 9-1-1, stated: “By sending the alarm signal over ASAP, information like the customer’s name, address, alarm type, and other details can be instantly transmitted without the need for the information exchange to occur during a telephone call. That translates to valuable seconds being shaved off the time it takes to get first responders dispatched.”

METCAD 9-1-1 handles about 5,000 alarm calls each year. It is expected that approximately 80% of these will now be processed through ASAP instead of via phone calls.

The following companies are part of the ASAP program: Rapid Response Monitoring, ADT, Affiliated Monitoring, Brinks Home Security Protection, Dynamark, Guardian Protection, National Monitoring Center, Protection One/Everon, Quick Response, Security Central, Securitas (Stanley Division), Tyco (Johnson Controls), United Central Control, Vector Security and Vivint.