Interview with the Chief of Security for Indigo Run Doug Wilson

Indigo Run is a gated community with two 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf courses on Hilton Head Island. The community has 1,775 acres, 759 residents and five security gates. Go Gated Realty TM interviewed Indigo Run Chief of Security Doug Wilson on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Go Gated Realty: How long have you been in security?

Chief Wilson: I started with the sub-contracted security force at Indigo Run in 1992. In 1994 the developer, Melrose Corporation started its own in-house security force. Indigo Run owners have had their own in-house security force since 1994.

Go Gated Realty: How large is the security force?

Chief Wilson: We have 10 officers and me. Two officers are on post 24-7. One officer is constantly on road patrol and one officer always stands the gate that writes the passes. We have three cruisers and these are police interceptors, the same as the Highway Patrol and the Beaufort County Police use. A conventional car does not have the suspension, cooling system, the oil capacity or gas tanks that these have because we have to run the cars so much more than standard cars.

Go Gated Realty: How are the gates monitored?

Chief Wilson: We have five different gates. One is manned full time by an officer. Four open by clickers and telephonically from pedestals at the gates. We have surveillance cameras on all of our gates. This is to see that the proper decal is displayed before we allow someone who calls to come in.

Go Gated Realty: Are these gates effective in preventing crime?

Chief Wilson: Security gates are a deterrent to crime. We have a secured fence all around the property and the gates are the only way to get through. If a criminal decides to jump the fence and come in, they have no way to get their ‘loot’ out. Recently we had a fence jumper who broke a window and entered a house but he did not get a thing. We caught him and it was a juvenile. We had to give him back to his parents. The gates keep people out who are not supposed to be here. That’s our job.

Go Gated Realty: So are gates effective in deterring crime?

Chief Wilson: Yes and a residential community like Indigo Run has almost no crime. We enjoy the reputation as having very good security. To some, that means it’s too hard to get into Indigo Run but I appreciate the compliment. We get people at the gates who want to come in and see someone by which they know only the first name. That’s somebody who wants to get in for who knows why; but that person is not going to come in until I talk to the property owner. I’m the protector of the property, not the property owner. I do not have the authority to give out an unauthorized pass. If the owner is not home, we leave them a message that they had a visitor - but that person will not come in.

Go Gated Realty: So who gets passes?

Chief Wilson: The Owners have permanent decals and they have the right to call in passes for their guests. We write passes and give guests instructions and a map on how to get there if they have not been here before. Contractors can purchase day passes and also annual decals for which they must have a proper driver’s license and insurance. We also have golfers who come through to play at the Golden Bear Golf Club.

Go Gated Realty: Are contractors a problem?

Chief Wilson: We make sure that they are not. We follow contractors to their job sites if we don’t know them and our patrols look to see if they are where they should be. We don’t have as much new construction as we used to have but I know everybody’s name and address by memory because I have always logged in the passes to their construction sites when their homes were built. We also escort moving vans to and from properties to make sure they do not damage any yards or mailboxes.

Go Gated Realty: Who enforces rules and regulations?

Chief Wilson: We enforce the rules and regulations. We give new residents the rules and regulations, the covenants, the dos and don’ts of living in a gated community. The boat trailers cannot stay on property for more than 24 hours. We do speeding tickets and run the radar. We help people start their cars. We pick up snakes out of yards. We take care of rabid animals and have had to shoot some. We do carry weapons and are sled trained. We have the same arrest powers as the Beaufort County Sherriff’s office and there are times when we must enforce the laws and arrest people and we must be armed.

Go Gated Realty: Do you do house checks?

Chief Wilson: We have a vacancy house check system and we have part time owners who are not here but 4 months of the year. We check the doors every four days for those people and we check the houses for others who may be away for the weekend if we are asked.

Go Gated Realty: Are you trained in CPR?

Chief Wilson: We are trained in CPR and as first responders but people are instructed to call 911 first. We have scanners and we can respond before EMS but you want them to be on the way. Our patrol cars have the defibrillators - AEDs. Not everybody has them because they cost $3,700 each. We have not yet had occasion to use them but another Island security force saved a life with them recently
 

Back  << Return to Map