Title
Fire Department Lockbox Program Update
Description
This item updates the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee on the Fire Department’s Lockbox Program.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Program Overview
The Lockbox Program began as a pilot in 2023, with support of Vice Mayor O’Brien and the Phoenix REALTORS. The program became permanent in January 2025 and was moved from Fire Prevention to the Community Risk Reduction Division.
In January, in collaboration with the Community Assistance Program, the lockbox program was expanded to include the ability to register an existing lockbox or a garage door/smart knob code. The program developed various program management tools to include a new public request form, robust map-based installation request manager, and executive level data dashboard. The CAD team also created reports to track dispatched calls to those addresses that participate in the program and a milestone tracking that operations can document when they utilize the lockbox during a call.
Current Messaging Efforts
The Fire Department actively promotes the program alongside other city departments such as the Council District Offices and Neighborhood Services, as well as internal departments such as the Community Risk Education Unit, Communications, and the Community Assistance Program. The Community Risk Reduction team will attend community meetings, district meetings, and other events to promote the program. The program is also promoted on the Fire Department website.
Current Installation Statistics
Since the inception of the pilot program, there have been 480 records added to the lockbox database, 365 new installations, 58 existing lockbox registrations, and 57 garage door or smart knob code registrations. A breakdown by council district is included in Attachment A. There are several code registrations that are included in the statistics that do not fall within a council district; therefore, the total number and the district breakdown will not match. Year-to-date the Community Assistance Program with the assistance of the Phoenix Fire Cadets installed 258 lock boxes.
Future of the Program
With support of the Phoenix REALTORS, the Fire Department just received another 400 lockboxes that will be installed by the end of the year.
The department currently receives an average of 168 requests per month since promotion of the permanent program began earlier this year. We are exploring additional staffing opportunities to get the lockboxes installed in a reasonable amount of time, by utilizing light duty and alternate assignment staff within the Fire Department. Should the requests continue at this rate next year, the department will also need to explore funding to purchase additional lockboxes to supplement the donations already received.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.