Business Spotlight: American Detection Specialists Inc.

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by Laura Scott|ret||ret||tab|

SBJ Contributing Writer|ret||ret||tab|

sbj@sbj.net|ret||ret||tab|

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In today's security-conscious environment, Jim L. Morris finds himself busier than ever.|ret||ret||tab|

His company, American Detection Specialists, has been protecting homes and businesses in the Springfield area for 15 years.|ret||ret||tab|

Morris says his job is to help others attain peace of mind. American Detection is a full-service alarm company that offers security consulting, home and life safety systems, residential and commercial security, fire and medical alert, home monitoring, closed circuit TV systems, access control and gate control. |ret||ret||tab|

"We've set up security systems for large and small corporations, schools and courthouses," said Morris. "We also set up moisture monitoring systems and the call button system for first responders."|ret||ret||tab|

Morris' son Bryan Morris, who joined American Detection in 1993, said people often don't realize the scope of the company's services. |ret||ret||tab|

"The biggest challenge we have is when you say to someone security systems,' they translate that into burglar alarm.' It's important that we educate people to what can be done. They don't understand all the needs that can be served," Bryan Morris said.|ret||ret||tab|

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On defense: Jim Morris|ret||ret||tab|

Jim Morris has a long track record of protecting others. His early career included military police duty in the Army, and experience as a policeman, reserve deputy sheriff and special investigator for the prosecutor in Bates County|ret||ret||tab|

"For 25 years I've always had a hand in some kind of how do I protect this?' With my background in law enforcement I'm aware of the many things that can happen."|ret||ret||tab|

Before opening American Detection, Morris was general manager at Sentry Security for three years. Prior to that he worked for two other security companies. |ret||ret||tab|

"I just decided I wanted to have my own company," said Morris. "The reason is because let's say I told someone that I would do ABC and they said they wanted us to do it for them. I give them my word but I'm overruled by the company. Then I lose integrity and face and everything else. With my own company, I tell you we're going to do XYZ for you for a certain cost and that's the way it is. If I miss a door when I do the quote, I pay for that." Integrity and honor are important, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

With that philosophy in mind, Morris opened American Detection in July 1989 with Carol Sutton and Scott Pierce, who remain with the company today. Son Bryan works as finance manager. |ret||ret||tab|

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Customized security|ret||ret||tab|

When consulting with a family, American Detection custom designs each system. There are many things to take into account. "There may be a person in the home who lives on a respirator. When the power goes off at 3 a.m., we call for immediate help," said Jim Morris. "Or someone who travels a lot and the power goes out while they are out of town. They are alerted and it could save the refrigerator contents or the family pets, especially in the heat of summer."|ret||ret||tab|

Morris scans the home for the best security coverage as well as where to place carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, cameras or motion detectors. "It's according to the family's preference," he said. |ret||ret||tab|

"My biggest priority is smoke detectors. I won't do a job if they don't include the smoke detectors. Fire scares me 110 percent more than a break-in," Morris added.|ret||ret||tab|

Security systems cost anywhere from 40 cents to 60 cents a square foot. "That's for smoke, fire, heat and everything. Some alarms are free but they're not worth a lot," Morris said.|ret||ret||tab|

A lot more is available. "The newer systems tell you which door it is when a door is open and where the fire is," he said. "When the power goes out, our wireless system stays on for three days." |ret||ret||tab|

Customers can also have hidden cameras installed. "We have several grocery stores that have hidden cameras," Morris said. American Detection also installs "nanny- watching" cameras and hidden cameras in areas where theft occurs. |ret||ret||tab|

"I harp on integrity, honor and character, so I have to add that we will not put cameras in a dressing room or a rest room," he said. "There's no graceful way to do that. What we do in a case like that is think outside the box. There are ways of catching someone stealing other than pointing the camera into the dressing room. We've won several awards throughout the years because we think outside the box."|ret||ret||tab|

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Secure customers|ret||ret||tab|

Jon Wessel at Don Wessel Oldmobile-Honda has used American Detection Specialists since 1990. "They have done quite a bit for us," Wessel said. "They installed systems in my dad's house, my house and the business. When we have a problem which we have very few we call Jim and he's Johnny-on-the-spot to fix it." |ret||ret||tab|

Wessel has burglar, fire and monitoring systems from American Detection at home and at the business. "Jim is an upstanding man," he added. "He's straightforward and a man of his word. (If) he tells you something, that's the way it is."|ret||ret||tab|

That's the reputation the Morrises and their 10 employees strive for. "We take that personally, and when a problem comes up, we call immediately," Jim Morris said.|ret||ret||tab|

While some people take a preventive approach with security, many times it takes a break-in before people will install a system, Bryan Morris said. |ret||ret||tab|

"The business we're in is so much like life insurance. It's not happy, funny or sexy, and nobody gets enthusiastic about it. A lot of customers wait for a crisis and they call when they feel threatened. We can take that away."|ret||ret||tab|

While the Morrises would not release company revenues, the growth of the company is obvious. In early 2003, American Detection moved from a 900-square-foot location to its current 3,000 square feet, and the firm recently celebrated 15 years in business with a company party.|ret||ret||tab|

In his years in the business, Jim L. Morris has seen three generations of change in security systems. "Today's system has so many more things. The chime of yesterday is now a voice. Systems can be programmed from any touch-tone phone anywhere," he said. "Systems today are less expensive, richer in features and can do things an old system couldn't do. Now the communication is done by wireless cellular network or radio transmission rather than phone lines."|ret||ret||tab|

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