SOUTH HADLEY, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — In the first nine months of 2025, the South Hadley Police Department has responded to 338 false alarms, taking away officers from where they’re needed most.

The Department says the main cause of the false alarms is user error with security systems and reminds the public to call the business line rather than 911 for a false alarm.

The town of South Hadley has a False Alarm Bylaw that was enacted in 2017 which includes a fee schedule for false alarms. The fourth recorded false alarm within a calendar year will be charged a fee of $25 and subsequent incidents will be fined $50 each.

The Police Department is suggesting that residents and businesses become more practiced in managing their security systems and communicating with their security providers.