Liberty’s new ‘Cry Wolf’ system aims to cut back on hundreds of false intrusion alarms

LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Liberty Police Department is taking steps to reduce false alarm calls that could be costing real emergencies valuable response time.

According to the department, Liberty officers responded to 851 intrusion alarm calls in 2024 alone. Of those calls, only five resulted in a police report — 717 were false alarms, and 129 were canceled by the alarm companies.

“One problem we have identified over the last few years is an increasing amount of false alarms that officers are spending time on,” said Captain Matt Kellogg, with the Liberty Police Department. “We were just looking for a solution that didn’t take more manpower from the city. and help people figure out how to reduce their own false alarms.”

Further data showed that between January 2021 and September 2024, only 25 addresses ed for nearly 25 percent of all false alarm calls.

“These false alarms can be triggered by many things: pets in the home, things hanging from the ceiling in businesses that are blowing with the a/c or heat, anything like that can set off these alarms,” said Kellogg. “Our goal is to help educate the citizens and business owners so that we reduce those, and officers are spending less time responding to false alarms. It’s nothing intentional, but we want to make sure we are responding to where we are needed.”

False alarms or not, however, policy dictated that two police officers had to respond to each call. This resulted in a total of 239 department hours spent on the false alarms in 2024.

To minimize these calls going forward, LPD is implementing what it’s calling a “False Alarm Reduction Program.” Several business owners in the square were on board with the new program.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Elise Bretz, the owner of Mama and Me Boutique. “That takes away police officers every time that could be needed somewhere else.”

In partnership with a company called Cry Wolf, all intrusion alarms will be monitored, and false alarms will be tracked. After two false alarms, a system will be fined $25, and the fine will increase with each subsequent occurrence.

What does this mean for alarm owners?

Starting March 31, 2025, all Liberty individuals, organizations and businesses with alarm systems will be required to them through Central Square. It is already a requirement to have an alarm permit.

Central Square will send a letter in the mail to anyone who has obtained an alarm permit in the last four years with instructions on how to apply for a new one.

Anyone needing assistance with their alarm permit can reach out to Liberty police or Central Square. More information is available here.

Liberty is one of 40 departments and municipalities in Missouri to use the Cry Wolf system, including Kansas City, Missouri.

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