OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – The Oshkosh Police Department is urging residents and college students to keep things peaceful during the city’s biannual pub crawl event, citing growing public safety concerns.
Police emphasized that the pub crawl is an unsanctioned event with no individual sponsor. It is not city-sponsored or sanctioned by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
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Authorities say recent events have seen an increase in disruptive and, at times, violent behavior.
“Both the October 2025 and the most recent pub crawl involved weapons-related incidents, underscoring the increasing public safety risks associated with the event,” said Kate Mann, Public Affairs and Crime Prevention Officer for the Oshkosh Police Department.
During the April 2026 pub crawl, officers responded to approximately 65 calls for service, including disturbances, ordinance violations, noise complaints, property damage, OWI, reckless driving, suspicious activity, trespassing, court order violations, welfare checks and a weapons complaint.
Ten individuals were taken to jail in the area of the event, including a 23-year-old man accused of shooting a 17-year-old boy from Oshkosh High School.
Mann said the large-scale response required extensive planning, staffing and coordination with multiple agencies, including the UW-Oshkosh Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.
“These large-scale responses required officers, equipment, planning, and coordinated support from multiple agencies,” Mann said. “Those resources are diverted from other community needs in order to manage the event.”
Police noted that only 14% of individuals who received citations were UW-Oshkosh students, and just two of the ten people arrested were Oshkosh residents.
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“Events characterized by excessive alcohol consumption, large crowds, and house parties significantly increase the likelihood of criminal activity and disorderly conduct,” Mann said. “This is not a harmless event; its consequences extend well beyond a single weekend.”
The department said it is exploring enhanced ordinances to address ongoing concerns tied to the pub crawl and remains committed to taking swift action against behavior that threatens public safety.
