A packed town hall meeting at the Town of Menasha Municipal Complex tonight is catching its organizers a little off guard.
The Town of Menasha Police are leading an hour-long presentation and discussion of how to best respond to an active shooter scenario, and the room reserved for the event is standing room only.
While it's a class that Community Liaison Officer Jason Weber is familiar with giving to area businesses, he says this is the first time police have offered it to the public.
"Everyone is interested in knowing how to protect ourselves, and our families," says Mary Hurley, from Wautoma.
People are eager to learn the proper protocol if they're ever caught in the panic of an active shooter scenario.
"I have three teenagers," says Shannon Deshambo, of Neenah, "and I'd like to be able to convey to them how to stay safe in a situation like this."
For nearly everyone here, the deadly random shooting along the Trestle Trail Bridge back in May has residents across the region realizing tragedy can strike anywhere.
"I know people that were on the Trestle Trail that day," says Deshambo.
"Times are changing," adds Hurley. "The more that we can think ahead, and be prepared--it's going to pay off."
"They're moving from schools, from workplaces, to... now churches," says Town of Menasha Community Liaison Officer Jason Weber.
Part of tonight's discussion, says Weber, is teaching people to not ignore the sights and sounds of danger.
"[People will] dismiss, you know, maybe the sound of gunshots as firecrackers," says Weber, "it takes law enforcement three minutes to get to one of these incidents, and a lot can happen in those three minutes."
Organizers say the high turnout from tonight's even has them considering future dates for public sessions on proper active shooter response.
Police say seven out of ten active shootings are in public places.
