SARANAC LAKE — Local law enforcement agencies, led by the Saranac Lake Police Department, are conducting active shooter trainings at the Saranac Lake High School and former Pius X high school building this week.

The training started on Tuesday and will continue through Thursday.

“We hope this is a training that we never have to use, but we are prepared to do so,” SLPD Chief Darin Perrotte wrote in a news release.

Perrotte said this training has been in planned for months, before any of the recent “swatting” hoaxes which have hit local schools and disrupted learning, spread fear and triggered large police responses for what turned out to be false reports.

“Those incidents, however, are a stark reminder of why we have to plan and prepare,” Perrotte wrote. “News of active shooter incidents across the country has filled media outlets and terrorized communities. We want to make sure we are prepared here in the Adirondacks.”

Swatting is defined as a criminal harassment tactic that involves deceiving an emergency dispatch service into sending police to another person’s address. Swatting is dangerous and can sometimes be fatal.

Nearly 50 officers with Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Plattsburgh and Malone police departments; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office; New York State Police and state Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers are being trained by instructors from the State Police and the DEC.

Citizen Advocates still owns the Pius X high school building on Petrova Avenue, but the village of Saranac Lake is under contract to purchase the building with potential plans to make it a hub for the village’s police, fire and rescue departments.

The village has signed an early occupancy agreement with Citizen Advocates to use the land before the purchase is final.

Perrotte said the training is closed to the public and signage posted at the buildings will keep community members aware of the increased police presence and activity.