Warren Police Announce 'Operation Blue Angel'

From the Warren Township Police Department:

The Warren Township Police Department, with the assistance of the Honorary PBA and Township Committee, has announced a program to assist residents 55 and older who, due to advanced age, mobility issues or medical concerns, could be unable to answer their door in an emergency.This program will be offered free of charge to any eligible resident. Additionally, if needed, Warrenville Hardware, located at 61A Mountain Blvd., will provide a complimentary duplicate key to residents who have been accepted into the program.

A police department-owned lock box, similar to a realtor’s lock box, is mounted to a door of the home with a key. Responding police officers, in the event of an emergency, are able to retrieve the key by using a code accessed by the department's Communications Center, allowing officers to quickly enter the home without causing damage. Following the event, the code is reset for security purposes and kept on file at police headquarters.

Applicants to Operation Blue Angel must have a medical condition that is potentially incapacitating, must either live alone or be home alone on a frequent basis, must provide a key (or keys) for an entry door to the home and must grant the Warren Township Police Department permission to access and use the key in a medical emergency. The police department maintains ownership of the lock box. Eligible residents must notify the department so that police may retrieve the lock box. The resident will not be given the code to the lock box and may not request access to the lock box, except in a medical emergency.

Operation Blue Angel will begin Friday, April 1. The application and liability waiver forms are available at the Warren Township Police Department or through the department website.