Township of Franklin

Chief Craig R. Novick of the Franklin Township Police Department is pleased to announce the start of Operation Blue Angel. Operation Blue Angel is intended to provide Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) access to a residence in the event of an emergency where the resident is unable to open the door.

Eligible residents will be provided with a lock box, like those used by real estate agents, free of charge. A key to the residence will be stored in the secure lock box near the entrance to the residence. The access code to the lock box will only be available to Police personnel and used only during an emergency. Residents will be required to provide a spare key to be placed in the lock box. The lock boxes are being purchased using drug forfeiture funds, so no taxpayer funds are being utilized.

Participation in Operation Blue Angel is limited to Township of Franklin residents age 55 and older who live alone or are alone for extended periods of time on a regular basis or persons with medical conditions that could lead to incapacitation who live alone or are alone for extended periods of time on a regular basis. Applications will be available shortly from the Franklin Township Police Department.

Once the program is underway, a police officer from the police department will install the lock and demonstrate how it operates and will answer any questions the resident may have. The combination on the lock box will only be available to responding police personnel and will be reset to a new combination if utilized.

All program participants will also receive a File of Life package. The File of Life is a program started by the Franklin Township Police Department in 2001. Participants complete a questionnaire that provides emergency responders with important information such as medical history and current medications. This information is kept in a magnetized pouch on the kitchen refrigerator.