Wife Brande works for State Farm Agent Ann Price in Duluth, GA. Her customer interactions help families find solutions that protect what’s important to them.

Husband Tommy is a Deputy with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department in the DUI, Drug, and Veteran’s Treatment Courts. He protects the public by helping people better themselves rather than re-offend. His job is not without risks and Brande recognizes that.

“When people are angry about being in jail they have nothing but time to think of ways to hurt him,” she said. “There have been a couple of instances where I wanted him to change jobs."

To help provide peace of mind to first responder families like the Maloys, State Farm teamed up with the home security company Canary to launch Protect the Protectors. The program donates Canary devices to first responders so they can watch activity in their homes through a smartphone.

“We want to acknowledge first responders for the work they do and dangers they face,” said John Carter, head of communication for Canary. “There’s a person behind the badge and they have families.”

Brande proudly joined 29 State Farm Agents at a September event where home monitoring devices were provided to Gwinnett County sheriff deputies.

“As the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have a heightened awareness of the high risks police face on the job. The donation of the Canary devices was gracious and falls in line with our (State Farm) focus on helping life go right.”

Tommy also praised the program.

“Being able to check my phone and see my home and family while I am at work is great,” he said. “The kids may not like it, but I do.”

Extending the Protection

During the very first Protect the Protectors event in December 2015, 400 home monitoring devices were donated to Allentown, PA first responders. Protect the Protectors has since donated more than 5,000 home monitoring devices to police and fire departments.

State Farm employee Josh Boyd volunteered to help distribute devices to more than 300 Irving, TX police officers. It was a special honor for Josh, his dad, Larry, served the citizens of Irving for 12 years as police chief before retiring in 2016.

“At one point my dad stopped being a police officer because my mom was too scared,” Josh said. “But he went back because that’s what he’s passionate about. Officers face risk every day and I am pleased the company I work for has chosen to appreciate them.”

Learn more

To learn more about a Canary special offer for State Farm customers, visit the State Farm Home Protection & Automation website. Homeowners and renters may qualify for the Local Burglar Alarm discount level under the State Farm Home Alert Protection Discount. No documentation of installation is required. Availability and terms of discounts vary by state. Contact a State Farm agent for details.

Beginning this year and continuing throughout 2016, the program will identify communities of first responders across the country, and donate Canary devices to police, fire and EMS professionals for use in their homes.

"Every day thousands of Americans wake up and go to work to protect the people in their community," said Jon Troutman, Canary Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. "They dedicate their lives to keeping us safe, and we wanted to do something to help keep their homes and families safe while they're on the job."

This opportunity builds on an existing relationship between State Farm and Canary, announced earlier this year. State Farm has a history of supporting first responders and their families through scholarships and other initiatives, and this new program expands upon the successful State Farm Arson Dog Program, a canine training program for law enforcement and firefighters that has grown to include departments in 44 states, three Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia.

"State Farm has close ties to first responders, and we're excited to look for new opportunities to show thanks for those who serve their community," said Heather Paul, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist. "A program like this helps everyone and gives State Farm agents a chance to show their support for these remarkable men and women."

Allentown, Pennsylvania was the first community selected to participate. Canary devices will be donated during a ceremony at the Mack South Fire Station/Allentown Fire Training Academy on December 14, 2015 at 10:30 AM ET. Fire Chief Lee Laubach and Police Chief Keith Morris will accept the devices on behalf of the community, and work with city officials to coordinate distribution to more than 400 police, fire, and EMS professionals in Allentown. Laubach is an arson dog handler who works with K9 Judge, runner up for the 2015 Arson Dog of the Year.

"We're honored to work with State Farm and Canary to provide home monitoring devices to our first responders," said Laubach. "These brave men and women don't just protect our communities, they're a part of them too. This program represents a unique opportunity for us to give back to them."

Canary is the all-in-one home security system controlled from your phone. It has HD video/audio, built-in siren, and sensors for temperature, humidity and air quality. Since launching earlier this year, Canary has caught dozens of incidents including burglaries, gas leaks, employee theft and even arson.

Future communities have already been identified, and the next iteration of Protect the Protectors will roll out early January in Virginia.

About Canary

Canary is a New York City-based product company building the future of security. Canary combines innovative hardware, elegant software, and meaningful services to solve universal needs. Canary's first product is a complete security system packed into a single device -- a modern approach to security that lets you protect the people and places you care about most. For more information, visit canary.is.

Mike Bennett was at dinner when he got a Canary alert showing an intruder in his home. He quickly called the police. Mike arrived before the police and scared the burglar, who dropped Mike's belongings as he fled. The officer was able to get a screen-grab of perpetrator's face from the video and quickly shared it with other officers in the area, leading to capture and arrest.

Sound like a movie scene? Mike's story demonstrates that technology continues to advance daily. What were once movie scenes set in the future, have now become reality.

"People would see this technology and say 'I can't afford that, it's for people over there', says State Farm Agent DeAnn Mathison. But the popularity is rising and now it's in many people's price point. The systems are easy to use and people feel like they can have it too."

More and more customers are signing up for these programs. Mike McShea in Indianapolis was also able to stop a burglary in his home.

"Canary alerted me and allowed me time to get the police to my house to catch the guys. I was then able to download the video and share it with the detective at the scene once I arrived home," McShea said. "The police said the footage was fantastic. They asked a few times what the name of the camera was so they could get one for their own houses!"

What is Home Automation?

Home automation is the use of one or more computers to control basic home functions and features automatically, sometimes even remotely.

Vital home functions can be controlled remotely from anywhere in the world using a computer connected to the Internet. This can include the scheduling and automatic operation of sprinklers, heating and air conditioning, security systems, lighting, and food preparation appliances or remote control of telephones and home robots, such as automatic vacuum cleaners.

The term often used to describe dwellings with these features is "smart home".

Some companies, like Canary, provide a home security device that consumers can set up in their homes within minutes. There are also companies like ADT that wire your home for home security and communication.

They all provide some level of security, peace of mind, and possibly insurance discounts. Click here for details.