APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – People in the Appleton community are finding ways to show their support for the family of an Appleton Firefighter who was killed in the line of duty Wednesday evening.
Over 100 law enforcement vehicles from Outagamie County and nearby, participated in a five-minute long procession as the body of Mitchell Lundgaard was transported from Milwaukee to Appleton Thursday afternoon.
Hundreds gathered to pay respect, but Appleton Mayor Tim Hannah said that is just the beginning of the support that has come to Appleton.
“We had firefighters from Neenah, Menasha and surrounding neighbors to man our fire stations so our firefighters could gather at midnight and hear from their Chief”, Mayor Hannah said. “The outpouring of support in this difficult time has been tremendous.”
A memorial has been put in place at Appleton Fire Station #1.
Already items are being left for the family in memory of Lundgaard.
More opportunities to show support will come in future days.
Mayor Hannah says now is not the time to spread rumors or draw conclusions on social media.
“I really want to encourage people to refrain from speculating or judging what may or may not have happened,” Hannah said. “There will be a time that we will talk in greater detail about what happened, our response and how we go forward and what we learned.”
The arrangements for the service to honor firefighter Lundgaard are pending and a lot of it is going to depend on the families wishes, according to Hannah.
“For now, we are all going to do what we do best. We are going to honor the memory of our brother.”
Many area agencies and government officials have taken to social media to express their condolences to the Appleton Fire Department and Appleton Police Department.
GREEN BAY METRO FIRE: Words can not describe the feelings and emotions that our Brother and Sisterhood are feeling right now. Yesterday a routine call turned into a deadly shooting with one of Appleton Fire Departments finest losing his life in the Line of Duty. We all know the dangers our profession faces on a daily basis, but it is not until an incident like this that it becomes a reality. Please pray for our fallen Brother, his Brothers and Sisters at AFD, and his family during this tough and trying time. “Greater love hath no man, than to lay down his life for his brother”
LITTLE CHUTE FIRE DEPARTMENT: Last evening tragedy struck the City of Appleton and this entire area. An Appleton Police Officer was shot and injured while a 14-year member of the Appleton Fire Department was shot and lost his life. Please take a moment to pray for the friends, families and members of their respective departments. If you see a police officer or a firefighter in your daily activities please extend a hand of gratitude and support. We the members of LCFD will stand beside our brothers and sisters of the City of Appleton Fire and Police Department supporting them any way that we can. RIP brother we will all take it from here!
SHAWANO POLICE DEPARTMENT: Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the Appleton Firefighter who lost his life yesterday, an Appleton Officer and two other individuals who were also shot and injured during an incident at the Appleton Transit Station yesterday.
SUAMICO FIRE: Suamico Fire would like to pass along our condolences to @appletonfire during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Our thoughts go out to the @appletonfire@AppletonPD_WI and all those involved in the incident yesterday. Such a sad day in our community.
FOND DU LAC POLICE: Our prayers go out to @appletonfire and @AppletonPD_WI Please keep them in your thoughts today!
WINNEBAGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Our hearts are heavy today. Please keep @appletonfire and @AppletonPD_WI in your thoughts today.
GRAND CHUTE POLICE: Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters at @AppletonPD_WI and @appletonfire and the Appleton community this evening
SEYMOUR POLICE: We’re sending our thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters at @AppletonPD_WI and @appletonfire tonight.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS: Kathy and I send our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, & colleagues of the firefighter who lost their life last night. We stand with our brave first responders, @appletonfire, @cityofappleton, and @AppletonPD_WI as they mourn this loss.
Fire Departments from around the nation have also taken time to post similar messages on both Twitter and Facebook.
