Resident urges West Des Moines to require Knox boxes on locked apartment buildings

During the citizens forum on Aug. 3, Molly, a West Des Moines resident, asked the council to require Knox boxes on every multifamily apartment building after experiencing a medical emergency in which responders encountered access delays.

Molly told the council that when she called 911 for her 5‑year‑old daughter, multiple first‑responder crews arrived but she had to leave her daughter's side repeatedly to buzz crews into the building, creating "a 2 minute and 32nd time delay" before crews reached their unit. She said she later learned an auxiliary Knox box existed at the complex but was not registered and that only one building in the complex had a box — not the building where they live. "Residents should never have to choose between staying with a loved one in a crisis and opening the door for an emergency responder," Molly said, urging the council to require Knox boxes on apartment buildings to improve access.

Council members thanked Molly and asked staff to evaluate options. Councilman Lodes confirmed he had placed the item on the public safety committee agenda for the first week of September so staff and the committee could examine costs, registration procedures and potential unintended consequences such as unsecure housing access. The council gave no formal vote beyond the referral to the public safety committee.

The item will return to council after committee review; staff said they will consult public‑safety personnel and consider options including tying Knox‑box requirements to rental permits.