DIXFIELD — Area police departments are keeping a closer watch than usual on RSU 10 schools since someone called the Mexico Walmart on Saturday night inquiring about the availability of guns so he could go to a local school.
Mexico interim Chief Roy Hodsdon said, “He made a threat to no school in particular.”
He said checks with the local Walmart showed that no gun purchases have been made from the time of the initial call through late Tuesday afternoon.
Hodsdon said the department is investigating leads.
Police from Mexico, Dixfield and Rumford, as well as at least one Maine State Police trooper, have been making their presence known in each of the schools since Monday. Hodsdon said the added presence will likely continue through at least the end of the week.
He said regular visits to the schools have turned up nothing suspicious.
Superintendent Craig King said crisis teams in each building were put on alert, asked to review emergency procedures and to stay vigilant.
The district issued a statement on its website acknowledging the possible threat and stating steps were being taken to assure the safety of the students.
King said robocalls, like those made when school is cancelled because of foul weather, were not made to students’ homes. Instead, he said the information was posted on the website, rsu10.org.
All employees received the updated information and the district’s technology team is playing an important role, he said.
“Fortunately, local and state police have done an excellent job responding to the threat and continue to investigate this threat. School personnel continue to operate school with a high concern for the safety of our students,” he wrote in the release.
Hodsdon said similar incidents recently were reported from Walmarts in Palmyra and Calais.
Anyone with information about the caller should contact the Mexico Police Department at 364-5686.
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