Green Bay Businesses Learn How To Deal With Mass Shooters

Business people from Green Bay got gathered on Wednesday to learn how to deal with mass shooters, the first time the Chamber of Commerce has hosted a session of this kind.

The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and the area’s Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the lunchtime event. More than 180 people came to hear strategies on how to deal with a gunman.

Brown County Sheriff’s Lt. Dan Sandberg said that shooters are usually men, and have mental health issues.

“It’s just like for fire drills,” says Sandberg. “Do you have an emergency action plan set in place for fire drills? Absolutely. So why not the same thing for active shooters?”

Sandberg said people have three options when confronted by an unexpected gunman: Either run, hide or fight.

“The No. 1 option is run,” says Sandberg. “Run and get out of there. Value your life because if you delay, you stall — you might potentially become a victim.”

Then, Sandberg said call 911.

The message wasn’t lost on Paul Belschner, with Smet Construction and Property Management of Green Bay

“It’s hard to not think about what an active shooter situation might bring to your organization,” he said.

Belschner said the thought of a shooter is an unpleasant reality.

“The time is now to send a message out to your organization as to what you can do to be better prepared,” said Belschner.

The session is the first of its kind in Green Bay. The sponsors hope those who attended will take the message back to their businesses and train their fellow workers.