PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The New Orleans terrorist attack is placing intense scrutiny on security plans for major events.
The Greater Green Bay area is poised to host its biggest event ever, the NFL Draft, in the spring. Local law enforcement says it’s prepared.
Like much of the nation, authorities in Northeast Wisconsin are saddened by the New Years Day events in New Orleans. The suspect driving a pick-up truck past barriers, plowing people down — then opening fire — getting into a shootout with officers before police are able to take him down.
“When you look at that, I think everybody personalizes it because there’s a lot of loved ones that were lost and especially those police officers that did some heroic events that day and saved countless lives. But it also energizes us to make sure that we’re better, that we’re continuously improving, that we’re looking at our security procedures internally for all events in the city,” said Commander Kevin Warych with the Green Bay Police Department.
Events in the area include everything from farmer’s markets and the marathon to Packers games and the upcoming NFL draft. Police and fire working collaboratively to make sure steps are taken to ensure safety for all.
According to Chief Matthew Knott with Green Bay Metro Fire, “We have developed plans for them. We do have proper training for them. And proper equipment to deal with a variety of circumstances.”
In New Orleans, the suspect used a vehicle as a weapon. It’s unfortunately not a new concept and something local law enforcement has been thinking about and planning for, for awhile.
“We’ve kind of planned our security, game day security and other even special events that are non game day related with that in mind. We’ve got meridian barriers that village has purchased and actually manufactured some of those so that we had those that we can place on game days,” added Deputy Chief Nicholas Kozloski with Ashwaubenon Public Safety.
In and around the stadium district, including Titletown, permanent barriers are set up to prevent unwanted vehicles from entering the area. Temporary barriers are often used, as well as vehicles, to hopefully avoid tragedies like those in New Orleans.
But that doesn’t mean local first responders won’t study the New Years Day tragedy too.
Knott added, “We’ll look at lessons learned from New Orleans and figure out how we can make our plans even better than before.”
In an effort to not disclose private security plans, they’re rarely shared publicly. Local first responders confident they have tool and plans in place to keep everyone safe.
“We always continue to learn, we’re always going to continue to self evaluate our department procedures and responses regardless of what event it is. And we owe that to the community, the community expects that of us and I promise you that the department here, citywide, will be prepared for whatever event is going to happen here in the city,” said Warych.
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