Town Installs Panic Buttons For Safety

Southold town residents are one step closer to safety in the case of an emergency.

Panic button for town facilities have been installed in 50 computer stations around town, Phillip Beltz, Southold's special projects coordinator, said on Tuesday.

The "tiny green buttons" have been placed throughout town facilities; individuals or employees who find themselves in a crisis situation find their calls dispatched immediately to police headquarters.

The board discussed a policy for use of the panic buttons. 

"The solution is really a good one in the fact that's really innocuous, especially if the person is in a confrontation," Councilman Bill Ruland said. He added that Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley has said the calls that come in via the panic buttons will be given top priority, with help dispatched immediately.

Beltz said a button will be installed right under the dais in the Town Hall board room; the unit should be placed by the end of June.

Ruland said there are advantages "both obvious and hidden" to the panic buttons and said in the past, emergency alarms went to a central station and not directly to the police department.