Our Story
In its earliest days, Sentinel Alarm Company grew one customer at a time. Bobby Free personally installed systems, answered calls, and responded to service needs. He knew his customers by name. He knew their families, their businesses, and their concerns. Security was not sold through aggressive marketing or flashy promises — it was earned through consistency, honesty, and follow-through.
Many of Sentinel’s earliest customers were families and small business owners who simply wanted peace of mind. They wanted to know that if something happened, someone would respond. They wanted to work with a company that would be there tomorrow, not disappear after installation. Sentinel became that company.
Word spread quickly throughout Walterboro and surrounding communities. One neighbor told another. Business owners referred friends. Churches, shops, and homes relied on Sentinel not because of advertising, but because of trust.
That foundation — growth through word of mouth and exceptional customer service — remains at the core of Sentinel Alarm Company today.
Thoughtful Transition
A Family Legacy Passed Down Through Generations
As Sentinel Alarm Company grew, it remained a family operation in the truest sense of the word. What Bobby Free started as a way to serve his community also became a way to put food on the table for generations. The company was built with pride, long hours, and a deep sense of responsibility to customers and family alike.
Eventually, leadership of the company was handed down to Bobby’s son, Richard Free, who carried forward the same values his father instilled decades earlier. Richard understood that Sentinel was more than a business — it was a legacy. It represented trust built over years, relationships formed through service, and a reputation that could not be replaced.
Under Richard’s leadership, Sentinel Alarm Company continued to grow while staying true to its roots. Technology advanced, systems became more sophisticated, and customer needs evolved — but Sentinel’s philosophy never changed. Customers were still treated like family. Service was still personal. And the company remained firmly committed to being licensed, insured, and professionally monitored at every level.
After decades of service to the community, Richard Free made the decision to retire, knowing that Sentinel Alarm Company deserved to continue under stewardship that honored its history and values. Rather than selling to a large national corporation or private equity group, Richard chose a different path — one rooted in trust, relationships, and shared principles.
Richard passed Sentinel Alarm Company to long-time family friends, the Pozzi Family, ensuring the business would remain family-owned, locally operated, and community-focused. This transition was not about changing Sentinel — it was about protecting what made it special.
The Pozzi Family shared the same commitment to customer service, integrity, and long-term relationships that had defined Sentinel for generations. Like the Frees, the Pozzis believe that security is personal, that customers should be treated like neighbors and friends, and that trust is earned through action, not marketing.
A Business Built to Serve, Not to Sell
In its earliest days, Sentinel Alarm Company grew one customer at a time. Bobby Free personally installed systems, answered calls, and responded to service needs. He knew his customers by name. He knew their families, their businesses, and their concerns. Security was not sold through aggressive marketing or flashy promises — it was earned through consistency, honesty, and follow-through.
Many of Sentinel’s earliest customers were families and small business owners who simply wanted peace of mind. They wanted to know that if something happened, someone would respond. They wanted to work with a company that would be there tomorrow, not disappear after installation. Sentinel became that company.
Word spread quickly throughout Walterboro and surrounding communities. One neighbor told another. Business owners referred friends. Churches, shops, and homes relied on Sentinel not because of advertising, but because of trust.
That foundation — growth through word of mouth and exceptional customer service — remains at the core of Sentinel Alarm Company today..
Serving Customers Like Family — Then and Now
At Sentinel Alarm Company, we believe that security works best when it is built on relationships. Our customers are not just accounts in a database — they are part of our extended family. Many families and businesses have trusted Sentinel for decades, passing systems down through generations just as the company itself has been passed down.
That trust comes from how we do business every day:
We listen before recommending solutions
We customize systems instead of forcing packages
We answer the phone when customers call
We respond quickly when service is needed
We stand behind our work
Whether protecting a family home, a small business, or a commercial facility, Sentinel approaches every project with the same mindset: How would we protect this if it were our own?
This philosophy has remained unchanged through generations of ownership.
Growing With the Community, Not Away From It
Over the decades, Sentinel Alarm Company has expanded beyond its original footprint while remaining deeply rooted in the communities it serves. Growth never meant losing touch with customers or becoming impersonal. Instead, it meant investing in better technology, stronger monitoring partnerships, and skilled technicians — all while maintaining a local, family-run approach.
Today, Sentinel provides modern residential and commercial burglar alarm systems, fire alarm monitoring, security cameras, and access control solutions, all installed by experienced professionals and backed by 24/7 professional monitoring. Every system is designed to meet current safety standards while honoring the personal service Sentinel has always provided.
Licensed, Insured, and Professionally Monitored — Always
From the beginning, Sentinel Alarm Company has taken responsibility seriously. Security is not an area where shortcuts belong. That is why Sentinel remains fully licensed, insured, and professionally monitored, ensuring customers receive dependable protection and reliable emergency response.
Professional monitoring is a cornerstone of Sentinel’s services. When an alarm is triggered, it is handled by trained professionals who understand the importance of rapid response — protecting homes, businesses, and lives.
