pcmagic... No one is responsible for wasting your time other than you.

The phone message system isn't even necessary if they would use the resources they already have & communicate to the parents how future situations PLAN to be handled. If you have young kids in this day & age, you might understand.

pcmagic...not everyone on here is an idiot ! I agreed with the way things were handled but at the same time, I was scared out of my mind. I would seriously be worried if any parent WASNT scared!Give us some credit!

OK...I have re-read all comments...here is my solution:
To all of those listed below I respectfully suggest that you give up your children for the state to rear. You obviously cannot handle adult situations, nor can you trust that those that you empower and entrust with the safety and education of your children can do this job without being micro-managed by you. Each and every one of you is an idiot. We are all less by having to read your posts regarding this matter.
As a special note to OntheNESide...yes, $250,000 could be spent by the School District to solve the solution in your eyes. I am sure others would want something different.
I, on the other hand, would like the district to NOT spend another $250,000 simply to put your mind, supposedly, at ease.
Thank you for wasting my time: besmom, happycamper, professor, involvedparent, janesvillemom, Rocky, slainte, saywhat, beccaboo, localboysince1968, and OntheNEside.
MY two cents...
magic1

MYMARO....I said the same thing! Duh! Huh?

Wow, a real couple of losers on here. You should see what Milton does: http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/oct/28/...

Hmm, doesn't that seem simple now?

I give up on all of you "do gooder wannabes". No matter what plan would, could or will be implemented, there will still be someone out there that is more right. This disgusts me....it is the extroverted need to blame others....and I suppose that is just the way the human race is. But, that doesn't mean it is right nor healthy. I am sorry I am so angry on this subject, but I remember the tragedy in Virginia....there was the need to blame the people that were helping, and what would they have done if no-one showed up to help? Keep this up people, and the police academy enrollment is going to keep decreasing as will the would be teachers. I certainly wouldn't want to come head to head with most of you citizen.....talk about going home with your head hung every day!!!!

Okay, so hypothetically speaking, if your plan were implemented, do you realize that other people will complain of 'why is the school district employing someone to call all the parents affected by an emergency situation?' when you start calling, you will see an even greater influx of 'gawkers' arrive to the already dangerous seen.

Again, I will say *a plan needs to be created & communicated to the parents*. At this point, there is no organization which results in confusion. When a school/children are involved, there has to be better response, not "that's just the way it is". Believe me, I have a lot of responsibility in my day & the state requires written policies on this type of thing IN MY HOME. There certainly should be something in schools.

You parents are falling victim to the "what if" syndrome, and there is no such thing as what if! Just be happy you were left in the dark and not in the morgue identifying your child because the police decided to come over and make an announcement while suicidal john ran into the school and shot it up! There is a what if......

ONTHENESIDE.......obviosly your plan of "OH I SHOULD CHECK THE RADIO" was too difficult for most, because it was ON THE RADIO. If this is so simple for you, and you would react PERFECTLY in a crisis situation, I suggest you be the person the school soley calls, and you get on the horn and notify EVERY parent.....Have any of you ever been directly involved in a situation where time is of the essence? I am guessing no, and if not, shut up!

It's just common sense to create a plan & then communicate it to the parents, that's what I'm trying to say. Then the parents know - oh I should check the website or listen to the radio or if they put a message on the phone system, everyone will know when they call. It's not that difficult.

The point is, that for 1/2-45 minutes people didn't know if their kids were safe. It is a parents right to know where their child is. They don't need an expensive message board. Use the website, email, radio, etc. If the street is closed, a message on the school board won't help.

In that short amount of time, and during an emergency situation, there is no way for them to give you people that want more, what you want. Be realistic and be happy your children are safe!! Good God.

they did the best they could with the resources they had available to them in this unpredictable situation.

if you think they need an elaborately expensive message board... start fundraising to get it.

The point isn't whether or not the lockdown should have happened or not, it's about the parents being notified. The school district should have a method to alert the parents/community. This may include: posting it on the website, calling the radio stations, email or text lists, appointing volunteers to handle such incidents. It does create a problem because buses are expected at a certain time & kids are expected at day care or home by regular time & when that doesn't happen, parents & caregivers are rightfully concerned. This is about being organzied, having a plan or a policy & following through. And students should be able to text their parents in this case. Sounds like the lock down plan needs to be revisited.

I agree!

I couldn't remember if they were electronic or manual. Maybe a chance to upgrade them if they are not. Either way, a whole lot of manufactured drama during the situation.

localboysince1968: I might be mistaken, but I believe that the message boards at Marshall and Monroe are not electronic. I believe that they are the boards with the plastic letters.

okay, so TEACHER's response was deleted. what was so wrong for expressing the thoughts of how beautiful people are for saving lives everyday? Freedom of speech (or expression in this case.

TEACHER: was she hot because she was in uniform doing her job? Yea, I'd agree, people in uniform are awesome! I'm proud of those in uniform-- police, firefighters, EMTs, military personnel. They risk their lives every minute to safe our butts so stupid people can complain that they were 'left in the dark.' When a stupid person is in a dark, dangerous alley, can I leave them there?

Thank you to Officer Jennifer Wehmas and the other Officers at JPD. Their job is to keep the people safe and that is exactly what they did. The picture shows Officer Wehmas cautiously watching the suspect’s residence, she is not carelessly running around trying to contact all the parents while there is danger in the area (like some parents seem like they want her to do.) Officer Wehmas and the others did EXACTLY what I wanted them to do KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. Also Capt. Danny Davis, thank you for telling the people like it is with your quote "Quite frankly, if that means that some parents or some students in the community are inconvenienced, then so be it," I for one do not believe that you do need to “sugar coat” stuff, tell the people the way it is. THANK YOU OFFICER WEHMAS AND JPD for all you do!

I think all the "GAWKING" parents that were dumb enough to stand outside the school whining about not knowing what was going on while the JPD was trying to do their job should all BE ARRESTED for obstructing! How's that for being included?

BECCABOO.......you see cops with guns.....you leave or avoid the area. Is it really that hard to figure out? Oh, what about us poor people on the outside??? THat was the most ridiculous comment on here yet. Seriously, next you are going to be complaining that the government hasn't made bomb shelters for each and everyone of us because of terrorist threats. Get over yourself.

Yes I remember when they locked down the school for the tornado in the area, I help out in the school and I recalled parents whining they wanted their kids out and were down right rude to the staff! Safety is the number one rule please parents remember that!

First off - don't they have an electronic sign boards out front? They couldn't put the brief message on that? The parents waiting to pick their children up then could see the message, and also to turn to WCLO for more information.

Second - I got to see the actions of parents first hand a few years ago when I was doing Junior Achievement at the local schools. Close to the end of the day, the school was on lock down due to a reported tornado in the area. The kids handled it well, but the waiting parents went wild, and acted like little babies. They were not going to have the school tell them they couldn't take their child home during a tornado warning. Some of the parents had little fits right in front of their children. We wonder why kids do not have any respect for authority. They learn from the best - their parents.

This is an absolute joke that certain people are even complaining about how this was handled. Absolute joke.

If the children were safe that is one thing, but did anyone think of us parents and our other children that were in the area of the school to pick up our children. I am not saying the JPD didn't do a wonderful protecting the children that were inside but what bothered me was their lack of concern for the rest of us.

It's unrealistic to assume they had the time or available manpower to call everyone in the area. They should have just called ME. Uh... even though I don't have any children and I don't live in Janesville.

OMG Give me a break! The time frame here was minimal. So what, they're stupposed to call all the parents and say "Sorry, the school will be locked down?" All the manpower they had was taking care of that critical situation. And that "i had no one i could call for info" crud? Call the dispatch center and they would've said "Yes the school is locked down but it's a safety precaution and your children are not in any immediate danger. Please be patient and we will release the students as soon as it's safe."

People, the kids are safe and a potential threat is removed from the streets...give the cops a break and quit whinning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe the police should have gotten on their bullhorns and announced "WE HAVE A MAN WHO IS THREATNING TO KILL HIMSELF SO WE PUT THE SCHOOL ON LOCKDOWN " out loud to the public maybe then everyone would be happy and informed
I hate stupid people

HAPPYCAMPER NEEDS A LIFE MAYBE ... YOU COULD RUN THE PAPER BETTER has a crappy comment everday on ever story Grow up !!

OMG. What a bunch of preschoolers. Sounds like the kids actually involved in the situation were more mature about it then most of you parents whining. Get over yourselves, your number isn't the first to be on speed dial in the event of a dangerous situation! I would be fearful to know what would happen to your child if he/she were in your presence in the event of a tragedy as such.....you would probably esculate the situation and make all at risk in more danger! Life does not revolve around "YOU" the parent....it revolves around the safety of a school and community as a WHOLE.

Would all you parents rather get word from a radio or a coroner.

Great job Marshall staff and administration! Thank you for protecting the kids!

My son goes to Marshall and I saw all the police cars.I was sooo scared to death I was almost in tears! He snuck out a phone call to me to let me know he was ok.When all was said and done, I was happy the police did what they did!! Thank you JPD for keeping my child safe!

Bottom line; Police called school, media and no children entered danger zone. Suspect apprehended without anyone hurt. Why are we complaining? Great job JPD, media and public schools!

Happycamper-Read the story The police called both radio stations. It was also on the gazette web page along with NBC15

My point exactly! If you want to be informed listen to local news! Quit your winning because poor little Johnny was in the area of the SWAT team and guns!

Anyone who has a child in a Rock County school should realize if they want immediate information about a situation like this, they can turn to WCLO or WJVL. Don't call the school. They are trying to do what is best for your child. Answering the telephone is not what is best for your child. If they need to call they will!

Just wondering, the article states that the JPD informed WCLO "shortly" before 3:30 about the lockdown. Does Marshall still dismiss at 3:20? If so, I am sure that many parents were already at Marshall before it was announced on the radio.

The Gazette shouldn't have wrote another article on this situation. Nobody is ever happy. It's ridiculous. The JPD and schools handled the situation very well. Enough said. You writing stories like this just makes the situation look bad. Thanks to one individual making a poor judgement call, all this drama has occurred.

I'm glad that police and school officials took the necessary precautions to keep my nephew safe at Marshall Middle School. I hope that the suicidal person is getting the help that they so desperately need.

I have read all of the articles regarding the lockdown situation. I don't understand why they used a full lockdown, meaning that rooms are locked, kids under cover, when the situation was outside the building. Rather, they could have used a "soft lockdown" - no one goes in / out of the building and you conduct a normal school day. The students could have been moved safely to the gym (no bullets there) until the all clear was given. Our school (St. Paul's) practices both types of lockdowns under the supervision of the JPD. As always, it is easy to second guess. Long post summarized - kids safe, "bad guy" in custody.

Letter to Gazette... Sounds like one parent, not parents who were left in the dark..What did this parent expect, a personal phone call Wow, JPD keeps the kids inside while a guy across the street with guns wants to shoot himself...I cant think of a better job from the police...Thank you JPD... exactly what we pay you to do...

Honestly PARENTS....get a grip. So maybe you were left in the dark....at least you weren't left with a child in a casket!! If you think you can handle these situations better....either A) homeschool your children or B) run for a seat on the board. You people make me sick. Yes, you may have been scared, but procedures are followed the best they can be in a "immediate" threat. If you only knew how unthankful you sound towards the school and JPD for thinking about your children's safety in the first place you would probably be ashamed.

I understand the parents being scared for their kids. on the other hand, when it's something local like that, chances are it's on a local station-- radio or tv. Using the excuse that listening to another radio station is not a kosher deal. When you hear of these types of things, chances are, it's on the local news, breaking news, etc.

When dealing with a person that is having a mental health crisis, people do what they have to do to keep the surrounding area as safe as possible. The police force on scene kept the neighorbood and community as safe as they could. It's up to the families and local residents to act responsibly.

Again, in this situation, the officers dealing with the immediate situation were more focused on the suicidal man as he is a risk to himself. Yet, with one that is suicidal, there is the potential of him/her turning on others in this 'desperation.'

So, next time, be grateful that there was a way to be notified! Either that, or allow yourself, your kids, and those around you to be at risk of being harmed... or possibly killed.

Thankfully, the officers were able to take this man into custody alive!

Not everyone listens to WJVL or WCLO. I, for one, listen to 102.5.

I totally agree that the police acted appropriately by issuing a lockdown. I also agree with a previous statement that the communication process is in need of MAJOR improvement. My daughter, currently a student at Marshall, was in a lock down at Harrison a year and a half ago and it was like pulling teeth to get any information from either the district office or the police. In fact, when I called the school district office, I was told that the person in charge of communications to the public was 'on break'. On BREAK?!!! In the middle of a school lockdown???!!!! WHAT???!!!
Also, the article mentioned that 'messages' were left with parties at the radio station/the paper. That is no way to communicate. The people responsible for communication with the media should never 'leave a message' in a crisis situation- they MUST INSIST on speaking to someone personally.
Finally, what about creating a text/email data base that can be activated when lockdowns occur to inform parents? I know Marshall already maintains an email data base of parents for newsletters and the like so it would seem as if that data base would have been activated yesterday? I have not yet received any word from Marshall on the email regarding this incident. I find that odd.

happycamper: "Maybe the Gazette, WCLO & WJVL could have done a better job of keeping everyone informed!" How is the media suppose to keep people better informed, when they get their information from the police? Are they suppose to send a reporter into the apartment and give updates as to what the man is doing?
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People get over it!!! The police did what they had to do to try and keep everyone safe. The kids were kept in school. Granted the ones on the bus should have been removed, or the bus moved to a safer area. But the police diffused a bad situation quickly.
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As for a mass text, most systems won't allow you text 500 people at once. Plus NOT everyone has a cell phone.
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As for the teacher not allowing his students to text their parents to let them know they are safe, dumb move. In that case I would have said, just this one time, then put your phones away.

I do not think cops running around with shotguns, and a school locked down is that hard to notice something not very good is going down. I would call it street smarts.
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Next they will claim they were left out in the dark by Obama during the National election.

c-lover2--Don't miss my point: I would be too. I'm just saying that a comment like that doesn't help matters, only tends to inflame the rhetoric a bit. That's all.

While I agree that the lockdown was the right choice, I question the stranglehold on information that schools and the police so frequently use. A simple statement that "The school is on lockdown because of a suicidal individual nearby. There is no threat against or danger to students in the schools, but we are keeping them there for their safety until this situation is resolved" would have saved a lot of fear and panic without compromising safety. People "freaking out" both inside and outside the school is counter-productive, but when nobody will say what is going on, people assume the worst.

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Yes - lock down in that situation. But give information immediately to avoid other problems.

I just read through my school parent handbook and they don't have anything about emergency situations like this. They do clearly state that the radio station is the place to get info about school closings due to weather, but nothing about other situations. It seems that this story indicates the need to add a section for procedures during emergency situations/lockdowns.

I would gladly be inconvenienced for the safety of my children...

The JPD did what was needed, but the radio stations did not. I was a parent waiting for my kids at Marshall. It was 40 minutes of very little info. WCLO for one only aired short comments twice during that 40 minutes -- I had the radio on the entire time. The JPD kept my children safe and did their part to inform the public to the best of their abilities.

To add to what I feel is Marshall Middle Schools impressiveness... there were two young men waiting in the parking lot as I was approaching the school. As I got closer to the door, Assistant Principal Pica, opened the door and said, "We're on a lockdown. Get in here." I quickly entered and was told to go down the hall by the main office. As I was doing that, another adult staff member, went into the parking lot to gather up any students who were waiting. These two young men, ended up in the same backroom that I occupied. Granted, we weren't immediately told what was going on. I just knew I was in a safe spot. A teacher in the backroom with me, eventually did tell me the situation. And she allowed the students and parents in the room to use their cellphones to text family. Just no talking on them. At one point, the school secretary came to our door, announcing herself, asking if there was a particular person in the room. At that time, we saw students (with arms linked) being escorted to other parts of the building. They had been in the front of the school..and with the windows in those classrooms, no one wanted anything bad to happen. Again, great job JPD and Marshall Middle School staff and students!

Note to Danny Davis: Sign up for next p.r. course. Don't belittle parental concern for their kids by saying: "Quite frankly, if that means that some parents or some students in the community are inconvenienced, then so be it." Comments like that add lots of heat, and no light to a situation. Yes, trust the police to do their jobs--which they did well in this case. But don't raise the temperature by disrespecting parents' legitimate concerns for their kids.

Happycamper-Read the story The police called both radio stations. It was also on the gazette web page along with NBC15

I am a Mom of a Monroe and of a Marshall student. I also happen to be one of the parents inside Marshall at the time of the lockdown. Thank you to the JPD and Marshall staff. Parents can be reassured that the safety of your children really is a priority. I witnessed it first hand. Excellent job!

Isn't this solved if people know from now on to turn on those radio stations? Perhaps this was just a matter of informing parents where they can turn to in such circumstances.

Is the Gazette sounding a false alarm? It sounds as if the police did an excellent job. Maybe the Gazette, WCLO & WJVL could have done a better job of keeping everyone informed!

Just say thank-you that nothing serious happened and let it go at that. They did their job and no one was hurt. Give JPD credit for reacting quickly, efficently and resolving the incident before it escalated into something more serious. Your children are safe. Don't put more stress on the police by making them second guess their actions because the next time it happens, the results could be a different outcome.

Congratulations to those of you intelligent (and self-aware) enough to TRUST your police and school administrators to keep your children safe.
To those of you that felt 'frightened' and 'out of the loop'...congratulations! You felt the same thing that the others felt. The difference? THEY trusted the school administrators and Police to do what was best for all in that situation. What did you expect them to do...call you to bring your guns and 'help control' a situation? Did you think that they put the schools on lock-down to put your sons or daughters at GREATER RISK?!!! Surely that must be it if you are expecting the police to come to each of you each time they must make a decision based on the public good, or to 'inform you' fully of what the emergency is that they are trying to give their full attention in dealing with. You are idiots and I feel sorry for the sons and daughters that you are raising...because this same thinking invades other areas and decisions in your children's lives as well. If my son or daughter would have texted me that they were scared, I would have told them that they are in good hands and to try to remain calm. That I trust the adults around them and they should do the same and to do what they tell them to do, and to shut off their phone so that they can be ready to do whatever the adults instruct them to do. Then call me when they get out of school.
My two cents...
magic1

It was handled as well as it could have been. Parents that have problems with this will have a problem with anything and everything. To those parents, GET OVER IT, your child is safe thanks to the actions of JPD. There is another aricle like this one where all those people seem to have posted. The lack of common sense is astounding. One mother expected a phone call or a mass text sent to all parent's cell phones. The district can't even keeps its PC's running let alone a mass text to all parents.

So the police should tell all the students and parents and sound off the panic alarm to make a tense situation even worse. Let the police do there job. Relax.

I am usually on the other side on this, but come on folks, the police were concerned about an armed suspect. Be glad you get to complain about not being notified and not that someones kids got injured. In a time were the only thing that is increasing is the sales of guns, it is good to see that the system worked to protect the kids. Kudos to JPD and JSD on this one.

Yeah lets take the officers away from the man with the gun and put all their attention on the parents who are scared for their children! Then when the man shoots it can hit anyone or hey it could even go through a window at the school and do who knows what! I think the police did their job very well. Oh well that you were inconvienced. I would rather be inconvienced than lose my child because I wanted to know the facts RIGHT NOW!!! Turn on the radio or go talk to the other parents. You'd be amazed at what you would find out!

My kids were in Monroe School during this. The police did a excellent job in trying to protect all the kids from potential harm. Here's a tought, if your children are locked in the school, that means there is danger outside. Parents should probably not stand across the street gawking and complaining about hoW the police didn't keep them updated. MOVE OUT OF THE AREA UNTIL IT IS SECURED!!

Four years ago Madison School was locked down during the school day and parents had no idea that it had even happened until receiving a note home from the school. Parents getting irate about not knowing what was going on is a mute point, parents could not do anything to help the situation anyway. Quit feeling so picked on and know that every update you could receive does no good to remedy the situation. Just take a breath and think before you put down the very people working hard to keep the kids safe. I am certain that the announcement could be adjusted to include the statement that "we have a situation not involved with the school, and the students are being locked down for their own safety". Keep in mind this was a man that had a gun and was making threats. I have four children in two different schools and my only concern is that they are safe....not all the details.

I’d give JPD an “A” on this one. I would have gone “A+” if they had a way to notify the parents waiting at the school to pick up their kids. Maybe a portable sign that says “Lockdown in progress – please tune to WCLO or WJVL (with their frequencies) for details.” I for one don’t listen to the Janesville stations and wouldn’t know where to find them, or even assume they would have the information. So, its something for JPD to consider for next time.
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I give the Gazette an “A+” here. I was waiting for the kids’ bus yesterday, and it was late. I was starting to get concerned, and checked the Gazette web site. Bingo – it told me exactly what I needed to know, and completely removed the pucker factor. Many thanks, Gazette, for getting that information out quickly and accurately!

Well at least they got to meet other parents. Also Jennifer the lady officer with the shotgun. WOW lady at arms.

I feel they did as good a job as was possible given the time constraints. My oldest daughter was notified at Craig HS and she was able to tell her father when she was picked up. We have another daughter at Marshall. TECHNICALLY...cell phone use is forbidden in school and no messages will normally be able to be sent. My daughter wanted to text us, but was told by her teacher to put her phone away. I would have preferred to know she was ok, but she followed school rules. I was able to immediately access gazettextra.com and the radio stations to find out what was happening within minutes of finding out about the lockdown. I feel the JPD and the schools did a great job.

Think about this logically. Maybe two secretaries, maybe 500 kids. Are they supposed to get on the phone and dial the parents one by one? Get out the megaphone and holler across the street to the waiting parents? JPD and the school district did exactly the right thing. You can't fault the school district for holding the Marshall students; they didn't know this was occuring when the Monroe students were released. Maybe next time the suicidal person would have the courtesy to wait until both schools shave been released, attempt this earlier in the day or wait until a Saturday.

And you have to remember, communication received all over the airways could potentially be received by an intruder. It was on the radio immediately and also posted on the gazette. Considering Marshall had just let out a school wide pep rally, It sounds like everything went just as it should have. According to my child and their classmates the teachers number one focus was getting all children safe and sound. Im proud to be a marshall parent!

You can never make everyone happy in a situation like this one. I am a mother who was at the school yesterday, and was just as worried about my child as everyone else. BUT, despite the fact that our routine was thrown off, I commend the school district and the JPD for a job well done. They made the children their number one priority, and kept them safe and out of harms way. To state anything other than that, is unfair.

I believe the police did their job. It's the communication process that needs improvement.

AWESOME JOB JPD!!!! I Guess people just have to bitch about something's. DAMN IF YOU DO-DAMN IF YOU DON'T

The article states Monroe Elementary was on lockdown, too. My understanding is that the Monroe kids had already been released and some were sitting on buses outside Marshall while Marshall was locked down. Is this accurate? If so, how safe were the children sitting on the buses? Fortunately, my son has his cell phone inside Marshall. He received a text from someone outside the school about what was happening, and he was able to text me about what was going on. I must have missed the stories on WCLO, because I turned it on immediately, heard nothing, and found the Gazette had a story posted with the info.

The police did a great job with this situation. I heard about the lockdown right away on the radio. Common sense for next time is if you see many officers around an area, turn on the radio. Likely you may find out what is going on.

I am one of the parents that was worried about my 5 yr old yesterday afternoon, calling from work and trying to figure out what was going on. I heard about it and was scared to death. She walks to her sitters house one block away. Honestly, I'd rather that I was scared for the amount of time instead of finding out that the police didn't do their job and something tragic happened. Are people that incapable of looking at the positive of things?