APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Mass shootings in Texas and Ohio made last weekend one of the deadliest all year. They came just days before a nationwide effort to build bridges between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Appleton was one of the hundreds of areas across the nation Tuesday, standing against crime together on National Night Out.
National Night Out means a little more to some, after the deadly mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso.
“We just all need to be a tighter community to help each other out, and support the police and everyone that does protect us,” said Dennis Nagan of Appleton.
The goal was for residents to spend some time with their neighbors and get to know their local police officers.
In light of the weekend’s devastating killings, Appleton Police Officer Meghan Cash tells FOX 11 this National Night Out highlights, even more so, the importance of taking care of each other.
“We can be a support for them and so, bringing all these businesses together tonight, and being able to show how cohesive we are as a community, and how we’re all willing to work together.”
By building those relationships with police departments and sheriff’s offices, the hope is that law enforcement gains the trust of its community.
And for some residents, a deeper appreciation for officers came out of Tuesday’s events.
“The police officers, firefighters, and the paramedics all do a lot for the communities, and everything that they do doesn’t usually go noticed,” said Alex Zimmerman of Little Chute. “A lot of people don’t really notice it.”
Nagan tells FOX 11, given the recent deadly shootings, he’s thankful to live in such a great community.
“We’re lucky, especially here in the Appleton/Green Bay area to be in such a safe environment. I mean, we’re very lucky.”
Cashs say National Night Out meant a little bit more to them, as well, this year. Appleton Firefighter Mitch Lundgaard was shot and killed in the line of duty back in May.
“To be able to kind of give back, and have a cool event that we can say, ‘Thank you’ for all the support that they’ve provided to us over the last couple months, is a great opportunity for us.”
Lundgaard had been called to help a man who was overdosing on a bus at the Valley Transit Center.
Police body camera video shows the man shooting at officers outside of the bus after being revived with an overdose reversal drug.
Lundgaard was hit and killed.
Thousands showed up to funeral processions and visitations held in the following days to pay their respects.
