BRIEF: Police and Gated Communities Reach Agreement on Emergency Access

Local police and gated communities across the island have reached a solution on allowing easier access to those areas when emergency situations arise.

According to police, gated communities will begin to install new standardized access systems. The new systems will be radio-controlled, which, when installed, will allow police to open a locked gate by using their police radio. This will allow access to authorities and emergency response personnel, while keeping unauthorized people out.

The cost of installing these new access systems will fall on the individual communities. HPD says that their police radios are equipped to work with the access technology, and no additional costs will be incurred by the department to implement the program.

In a release, Chief Harry Kubojiri showed his appreciation for the cooperation between police and the individual communities. ““It has always been our goal to work in partnership with our communities to address and resolve problems that affect public safety. Police want to provide residents and visitors alike a safe place to live, visit and conduct business while on the island of Hawaiʻi,” said Kubojiri.

The participation by the individual gated communities is on a voluntary basis. The department says that they will continue its practice of not storing keys and recording individual combination lock numbers for those communities.