By Joe Nelson
San Bernardino County Sun
Copyright 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc.
HIGHLAND, Calif. — A push of a button may soon enable police, firefighters, paramedics and code enforcement officers to access gated apartment complexes, mobile-home parks and even city yards and facilities during emergencies.
Under the H-Key system, the public servants would be given transmitters like garage door openers that could open electric gates for quicker access.
The program, modeled after Colton’s similar E-Key program, was given the nod by the city’s public safety subcommittee on Tuesday. The City Council will vote on whether to move forward with it at its Jan. 8 meeting.
“I think it will benefit us a lot,” said Lt. Tom Neely of the sheriff’s Highland station.
Fire Chief Mary Stock said the system would streamline access to gated communities.
“We’re looking at a time saving, which in fire and medical responses is always helpful. Anything they can do to save time to the calls is a plus,” Stock said.
Highland deputies and firefighters now use the Knox Security Key System, which requires emergency responders to exit their vehicles when they get to a gate and use a key to activate it.
Colton ran a pilot project on its E-Key program and estimated it saved from 40 seconds to as much as three minutes when responding to emergencies.
If approved, the sheriff’s station, fire department and American Medical Response would need a combined 37 transmitters at a total cost of $814. Gate-control decoders and operating systems would be funded by the property owners of the city’s 34 apartment and condominium complexes and mobile-home parks at a cost of about $488 each, which includes the cost of installation.
“The benefits of this system far outweigh the cost,” Neely said.