About First Watch
A father-and-son company built on service
First Watch Monitoring is owned and managed by Dane Stordahl and his son, Cody. We protect properties with trained people on watch around the clock, and we're building a company that can do it anywhere in the country.
- Veteran owned and led
- 24/7 monitoring
- Over 10 years of experience
Our story
From the Marine Corps to the monitoring room
Dane Stordahl’s path to security began in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served two deployments to Iraq. He then spent 13 years in law enforcement with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Rialto Police Department, working as a K-9 handler and training in SWAT, narcotics, and active-shooter response.
Over those years he saw how much property security depended on technology that recorded problems without anyone acting on them. First Watch was his answer: trained people watching live, with technology that extends their reach.
Cody Stordahl joined his father to build the company for the long run, with a clear goal: bring the same standard of protection to properties nationwide.
Purpose
Why we exist, and where we're headed
Our mission
Keep properties and the people in them safe by putting experienced operators and the right technology on watch every hour of the day.
Our vision
Become the monitoring partner property owners trust across the country, one well-protected building at a time.
Values
How we work
01
Discipline
We follow our procedures on every shift, because consistency is what keeps people safe.
02
Dependability
Our coverage runs around the clock, with backup systems so it doesn't stop.
03
Honesty
We give straight assessments and clear pricing, even when it isn't what you hoped to hear.
04
Respect
Residents, staff, and visitors, including people we ask to leave, are treated with dignity.
05
Improvement
We review our work, keep training, and upgrade our tools so service gets better every year.
06
Service
For a family of service members and officers, protecting communities is a continuation of that work.
Leadership
The owners
Dane Stordahl, Co-Owner
U.S. Marine Corps veteran with two deployments to Iraq and 13 years in law enforcement with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Rialto Police Department, including K-9, SWAT, narcotics, and active-shooter training. Dane stays involved in daily operations and major client projects.
Cody Stordahl, Co-Owner
Raised in a military and law enforcement family, Cody brings 4 years of hands-on security experience to the company. He stays involved in daily operations and client relations, making sure every client has a real person to call and every system is held to a high standard.
"Technology lets us watch more. People decide what to do about it." – Dane Stordahl
How we work
What happens when our operators see something
Every event follows the same path, so your property gets the same response every time.
- 01
Spot
An operator sees activity on a live feed or a flagged alert.
- 02
Assess
They judge what's happening using training and your property's plan.
- 03
Act
Keep watching, speak over the audio, call your staff, or call police.
- 04
Record
The event is written up with the video and the steps taken.
- 05
Report
You're told promptly, and trends are reviewed with your account manager.
Behind the screens
Our monitoring operation
Our monitoring center is set up to keep running whatever happens outside: backup power, more than one internet connection, restricted access, and direct lines to emergency dispatch.
Operators work reasonable camera loads with regular breaks and rotating shifts, because alert people catch more. Supervisors review how incidents were handled, and what we learn goes back into training.
Let's protect your property together
Start with a free assessment and see how First Watch would cover it.