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Garland lockbox program free for older or vulnerable residents, officers say
Summary
Garland Police described a free residential lockbox program for residents who are 65 or older, live alone, or have incapacitating medical conditions; officers install the boxes and dispatch stores PINs accessible only to emergency responders.
Garland Police detailed how the residential lockbox program works and who qualifies. The department said the program is free and that officers handle installation, including collecting medical information and emergency contacts. "It's a free program that the the city offers," Lucina Pedro Baranello, the department's public information officer, told committee members.
Under the program, officers install a small lockbox at a discreet exterior location chosen to avoid visibility and structural damage. The key is stored with a PIN that is entered into the dispatch system so responding police and fire personnel can access it in emergencies; other city departments and utilities do not receive that PIN. The department said applicants fill out a short application and that either the front desk or the NPOs (neighborhood police officers) will route installation requests to the correct officer. Questions from residents focused on whether privately installed key boxes can be integrated; staff said dispatch can record third-party box codes as a caution note when appropriate.
