MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – The Menasha Police Department (MPD) is inviting community members and students to take part in a unique, interactive event, the department’s first-ever March Madness Bracket Challenge.
The initiative aims to foster positive engagement between local law enforcement and residents while adding a fun, competitive spirit to the NCAA basketball tournament season.
“We are talking about our March Madness Bracket Challenge that we are putting out to the community today,” said Community Liaison Officer Matthew Roe. “We are going to have two brackets for students of all ages and another one for adults.”
How It Works
The bracket challenge features two divisions: one for adults (18 and older) and another for students of all ages. Participants must submit their completed brackets before the deadline on March 20, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. Central.
Winners will be determined by the total points accumulated throughout the tournament. Prizes include:
- Grand Prize: A half-day experience at MPD, which includes a behind-the-scenes tour, a meet-and-greet with officers (including the K9 unit, if available), hands-on activities, and lunch with the department’s staff.
- Second Place: An MPD swag bag featuring a t-shirt, hat, challenge coin, and more.
- Third Place: A gift card to a local business.
“So the deadline to sign up on the ESPN TC app is March 20 at 11:15 a.m. Central,” said Roe. “Then you just go to our website, download the app to your phone, sign up. There are links on our social media, look for the Menasha Police Department bracket.”
Encouraging Community Engagement
MPD officers believe this bracket challenge is a way to break down barriers between law enforcement and the community by showing a more approachable side of the department.
“Most often people deal with police officers in high-stress situations. We thought March Madness brings people together, people enjoy watching it,” Roe added. “We thought this was a good way to engage with the community, have some community involvement in an exciting way and a low-stress way.”
“A lot of people may not positively look at police,” said Patrol Officer Darius Banks. “From Menasha, we just want to show the community that we want to engage with everybody, we want to have a good time, and March Madness Bracket will help with that, I think.”
The challenge is free to enter, and community members can sign up via ESPN’s Tournament Challenge app using the links provided by the Menasha Police Department.
Building Stronger Relationships
Beyond the game itself, officers say the challenge is a way to build trust and relationships with residents.
“You always hear about all these brackets in different businesses and it really brings people together, and we did it last year city-wide as well,” said Patrol Lieutenant Matt Lenss. “It was a lot of fun, so kind of bringing the community together and having us engage with them.”
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“People see us out on the street and we’re wearing a uniform, and sometimes we get disassociated with basically being people,” Lenss added. “We are people like anyone else, we just wear a different uniform, a different job to do, but we are all in this together, we are all here to make Menasha a better city and better place.”
How to Participate
Those interested can sign up and submit their brackets before the deadline on March 20. The department will post tournament updates and leaderboard standings on its social media pages throughout the event.
