Law enforcement expert explains how agencies prepare for large events like KC parade

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Local law enforcement agencies continuously train for large-scale situations like the parade shooting in Kansas City.

And with major events coming to southeast Wisconsin soon -especially this summer's Republican National Convention- experts say those agencies will learn from Wednesday's shooting.

A former federal official said it's very challenging to protect large-scale venues like Kansas City's parade route. That's why agencies regularly practice their prevention and response tactics, and why they'll use the shooting in their training.

Brian Dorow is a former Assistant Secretary with the US Department of Homeland Security. He said, "Absolutely everything will be looked at, scrutinized, lessons learned, and then a strategy will be put in place."

The mass shooting in Kansas City commanded the attention of law enforcement officials from coast.

Dorow said, "Nobody wants something like this to happen, especially on their watch."

He said law enforcement's goal is always "Prevention, prevention, prevention of a threat or something like this happening."

To do that, Dorow said patrolling officers at large events are trained to watch people's hands and look for anything suspicious. "Watch for, certainly, bags, backpacks, clothing or something that does not fit into the environment."

And if something does happen, he said, "Deploy resources, mitigate the threat, and unfortunately if somebody is injured, how can you get them medical attention immediately?"

Most events establish a safety perimeter that requires people to pass through metal detectors or magnetometers at established access points. But it's harder to secure large venues, like a parade route.

Milwaukee has already faced some of those challenges.

In 2021, the Bucks' championship parade went off without a hitch, but there have been other violent incidents in very public places.

In May of 2022 17 people were shot in a series of shootings outside Deer District while a Bucks playoff watch party was going on nearby.

And last June, six teens were shot after Milwaukee's Juneteenth festival, a short distance away from the teen zone.

Dorow said law enforcement on the ground can only monitor so much, but it's important they keep fighting and strategizing to prevent the next tragedy.  "We just have to push back and say, 'This is unacceptable' and figure out how we can make positive changes."

We reached out to several teams and organizations to ask about public safety and keeping crowds safe.

In a statement, the Packers said, "The Packers family was deeply saddened today to see the senseless act of violence in Kansas City. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, the Chiefs organization and their fans."

A statement from the Green Bay Packers: pic.twitter.com/5puCsDLnMS

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) February 15, 2024

The Bucks and Brewers did not respond.

Nor did MPD.