T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA St. Clairsville police Officers Andrew Gazdik and Adam Porter hold the department’s Keys For Safety binder. The program aims to increase safety for residents who live alone.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The St. Clairsville Police Department is launching its Keys For Safety program in an effort to improve safety for residents.

Under the new project, older and disabled residents will have the opportunity to provide the police department with a spare key to their homes. The keys will be secured in a lock box within the police headquarters, according to a release from the department.

Often, because of illness or crisis, the members of the police and/or fire department are forced to enter a residence. Forcing their way into a residence can lead to costly repairs and a loss of critical time.

Officer Andrew Gazdik, who is helping to facilitate the program, said the purpose of the department collecting spare keys is only to allow officers or emergency medical personnel to perform a welfare check on an individual. He stressed that it has nothing to do with search and seizure, noting that those procedures require written consent and evidence of a crime or a warrant issued by a court.

He cited an example in which officers were contacted and asked to check on a female relative of the caller who lives alone. Police went to the woman’s house and were not able to contact her.

Gazdik said just as they were about to force their way into the home, the woman pulled in and was fine.

“It’s just an all-around good idea,” he said of the program. “Especially with the fire department, they call us frequently to go with them in case they have to force entry.”

If the police department receives a call from a family member, neighbor or medical alert company to do a wellness check, the keys will make access easier. First responders will follow specific guidelines to determine whether to make entry into the residence using the spare key. The program was designed to help residents who live alone and are more at risk and will allow first responders to enter the residence without damaging any property.

“This is the first time we’ve done a project like this,” Officer Andrew Gazdik said, noting he believes that it will achieve great success by saving time in critical situations.

The specific guidelines will include checking your address for any recent rescue squad calls, checking with the contacts you have provided, looking through any open shades or drapes, etc., in an attempt to confirm that the person is inside of the home. All of these procedures will be attempted before entering the house, according to Gazdik.

“The members of the St. Clairsville Police Department are committed to making the city a safer place to live, work and play,” the release states.

There will be a small form that needs to be filled out with the required information. The form will need information such as name, address, home/cell phone number, emergency contacts, vehicle’s license plate number, make, model and color. Participants will also have to inform the police department of which door the spare key will open.

Anyone interested in taking part can drop off a spare key at the St. Clairsville Police Department at 100 N. Market Street, St. Clairsville.