(Update) Police At Schools After 'Rumors of Violence' on Facebook

Update — Police Chief Mark Leonard has said that a police officer has also been placed at Assabet Valley Vocational School today.

He also stated that additional patrols will go through the elementary schools in the city.

In an interview with Patch, he said all of this was done to alleviate fears and represents an "overabundance" of caution.

Original Story — Online rumors of violence in Marlborough public schools have prompted police to be placed at the Middle and High School.

“There are rumors of violence that had been floating on Facebook," said Interim Superintendent Dr. Steven Dlott of rumors that named the high school. “We believe Marlborough High School is perfectly safe, however there is a Marlborough police officer at Marlborough High today."

Officers were placed at both schools to ease student anxiety, said Dlott. In the Middle School, there is actually a great amount of concern among the students about the predicted end of the world, he said.

“There’s a high degree of anxiety among students," said Dlott. “The police are actually there to make sure the anxiety is alleved."

In the wake of the Newtown schooting these rumors of violence are not unique to Marlborough, he said.

“All through the state there have been threats, which is a very sad commentary following Newtown," said Dlott. “We are of the belief that school is safe and this is a normal day."

Messages went out to parents at both the High School and Middle School, he said.

“We try to keep parents in the loop as much as possible with what is going on," said Dlott. "If we have a threat, or actually rumors of a threat, we try to keep them involved as much as possible.”