No change anticipated in CMS operations

Parent company Protection One’s sale shouldn’t affect service LONGWOOD, Fla. - With Westar Energy preparing to sell its stake in security company Protection One to investment firm Quadrangle Group (see story on page 1), there may be some concern among customers about the future of Computerized Monitoring Services, Protection One’s wholesale monitoring division based here. According to Robin Lampe, a spokesperson for Protection One, because the sale has not yet closed, it is too soon to speculate on what may be next. However, she added that there should be no adverse impacts on the company. “We anticipate there would be no impact on CMS in the foreseeable future,” Lampe said. “CMS remains committed to its customers, and we all look forward to the future as Westar Energy appears to be nearing the consummation of the sale of its interests in our company.” CMS was acquired by Western Resources in 1996. When Protection One merged with Westar Security, the security division of Western Resources, in 1997, CMS became a subsidiary of Protection One. But despite being a subsidiary of Protection One, CMS has operated autonomously, with its own executive management, central station and a dealer conference each year. CMS President Tony Wilson deferred comment on the company to Lampe. The company is currently in the process of a central station remodeling project, which includes not only aesthetic changes, like new carpet and fresh paint, but also involves technology improvement. The company is upgrading its computers and phone switches and hopes to showcase the revamped facility sometime this year.