MONROE - Monroe schools, along with a number of others in southcentral Wisconsin, went into "soft" lockdown Friday in response to a potential threat from a Janesville man claiming that he intended to attack an unspecified school Thursday.
According to a Rock County Sheriff press release, Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, is a suspect in a Tuesday burglary of a Janesville gun shop in which a large number of handguns and rifles were stolen. Jakubowski's vehicle was found on fire shortly after, with evidence of arson.
On Thursday, someone notified police that Jakubowski was agitated and had made threats to steal weapons to use them against public officials or at a school.
Jakubowski was convicted in 2008 of disarming a police officer and in 2003 of maintaining a drug trafficking place.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said police presence at Monroe schools would be heightened for the immediate future.
"Monroe isn't really any farther away from Janesville than some other places that are doing lockdowns," Kelley said, adding that schools in Whitewater and Fort Atkinson, both approximately the same distance from Janesville as Monroe, also went into lockdown following the threat.
Kelley emphasized that there was no reason to suspect that schools in Monroe - or anywhere - are in any more danger than other schools.
"We haven't seen anything about specific locations or specific public officials," Kelley said. "It's better to be too careful rather than not careful enough," he said.
Monroe Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said all exterior doors to Monroe schools would remain locked and no outdoor activities, including recess, would be scheduled.
"It will be business as usual inside the buildings," Hirsbrunner said.
Hirsbrunner said the school board has not determined whether the lockdown will continue next week but would make the decision in consultation with local law enforcement.
Jakubowski was still at large as of Friday night. Anyone with information regarding his location is asked to contact the Rock County Sheriff's Office at (608) 757-7911.
According to a Rock County Sheriff press release, Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, is a suspect in a Tuesday burglary of a Janesville gun shop in which a large number of handguns and rifles were stolen. Jakubowski's vehicle was found on fire shortly after, with evidence of arson.
On Thursday, someone notified police that Jakubowski was agitated and had made threats to steal weapons to use them against public officials or at a school.
Jakubowski was convicted in 2008 of disarming a police officer and in 2003 of maintaining a drug trafficking place.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said police presence at Monroe schools would be heightened for the immediate future.
"Monroe isn't really any farther away from Janesville than some other places that are doing lockdowns," Kelley said, adding that schools in Whitewater and Fort Atkinson, both approximately the same distance from Janesville as Monroe, also went into lockdown following the threat.
Kelley emphasized that there was no reason to suspect that schools in Monroe - or anywhere - are in any more danger than other schools.
"We haven't seen anything about specific locations or specific public officials," Kelley said. "It's better to be too careful rather than not careful enough," he said.
Monroe Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said all exterior doors to Monroe schools would remain locked and no outdoor activities, including recess, would be scheduled.
"It will be business as usual inside the buildings," Hirsbrunner said.
Hirsbrunner said the school board has not determined whether the lockdown will continue next week but would make the decision in consultation with local law enforcement.
Jakubowski was still at large as of Friday night. Anyone with information regarding his location is asked to contact the Rock County Sheriff's Office at (608) 757-7911.