School Lockdown Spurs Increased Police Presence At Upcoming Hillsborough Carnival

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough police will increase their enforcement at the upcoming Auten Road Intermediate School carnival on Wednesday following a lockdown this past Friday.

"I acknowledge that the lockdown on Friday was unsettling and rumors are abounding regarding the incident," Hillsborough School Acting Superintendent Kim Feltre said Monday night during the Board of Education meeting.

A lockdown was called around 12:20 p.m. Friday before transitioning to a shelter in place at the school.

"The lockdown was necessary as a means to ensure that students would stay in their classrooms as administration and police worked to deescalate and resolve a situation that we did not want our children to see," Feltre said.

"Please note at no time was there a threat by firearm or explosives or an imminent danger to people or the buildings," Feltre said.

Hillsborough Police Chief Mike McMahon increased patrols at the school following the lockdown and will continue to have an increased presence at its carnival Wednesday.

"Please be assured that the safety and wellbeing of our students is our paramount concern and the students are safe," Feltre said.

It is unclear why the lockdown was called. Hillsborough police did not immediately return Patch's request for comment.

Tapinto.net reported the lockdown was called after two parents, who were called to the school over a dispute between their children, got into a heated argument.

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