APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Another incident of facsimile firearms being found by law enforcement has happened. This time, it was at Appleton’s Erb Park Pool.
Fake or real, when you’re a law enforcement officer left to decide, it’s a split second decision and a dangerous one at that.
“It’s gonna be a very dynamic response,” said Cory McKone, associate dean of public safety at Fox Valley Technical College. “Officers are gonna have to make decisions quickly in that dynamic environment, and being able to discern whether or not a firearm is fake or real becomes incredibly difficult.”
Police in the area have reported several incidents this summer of young people brandishing what looks to be real weapons, when in fact, they’re not. That was the case on Aug. 4 at Appleton’s Erb Park Pool.
“Ultimately, what they saw were three juveniles in the park and at least one of them was running toward the friend group with what they believe to be a short barrel or a short-stock rifle pointed in the direction of the other juveniles,” Cpt. Gary Lewis with the Appleton Police Department explained.
It appears to be a fad– and one McKone says that no one seems to understand how or why it started.
“It’s hard to say exactly why,” he said. “I don’t know that I could put my finger on it necessarily, but I think what we need to do is communicate with the parents — talk with the parents who are largely purchasing these firearms for these juveniles.”
It’s a trend that law enforcement officers say needs to be stopped.
“A legally-carrying citizen in the state of Wisconsin may choose to take action, in order to save themselves or families or other members of the public, or responding police officers may engage in deadly force because they might view that as a threat by how those firearms are being presented,” Lewis said.
And while law enforcement officers train to try and distinguish fake from real, it’s not always so easy to tell.
“In some cases, you can’t make that decision between is it fake or is it real,” said McKone.
