The Roland Police Department is now offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and successful prosecution of the individual(s) involved in the recent bomb threats to Roland Public Schools.

The department was initially offering a $5,000 reward but following Friday’s event, the community has rallied together and added additional funding, increasing the amount to $15,000.

“Roland Police Department, in conjunction with Roland Public Schools, as well as federal and local law enforcement are working tirelessly to bring the individuals responsible for this into custody,” Roland Police Chief Tommy Sessums said.

Sessums said any individual wishing to come forth with any information can directly contact the department’s dispatch center at their non-emergency number, 918427-3252, or anonymously to the department’s Tip Line at 918-772-7568.

On Friday morning, the school district conducted a third lockdown after a transformer reportedly blew on campus, causing alarm until OG&E could confirm that the loud noises heard were the blown transformer.

“It was a very unfortunate accident in light of the recent occurrences,” school administration wrote on their Facebook page. “Roland Police and other agencies were outside on the grounds as part of our safety procedures and heard the sound. They called for an immediate lockdown and we complied with their request.

“All students and staff have been and continue to be safe. We will continue our school day with increased presence of law enforcement as reassurance for everyone. All students are currently doing well and proceeding with classes inside their respective buildings. You will be able to sign out your students if you feel compelled to do so.

“Please understand that this could cause a traffic log on campus. Again, we hope that you see Roland Schools efforts to keep our students and staff safe. Safety is always our #1 priority.”

The school was thankfully able to proceed with their football homecoming festivities on Friday night at Ranger Stadium.

The school district received separate bomb threats on Oct. 17 and 22.

According to reports, they were notified by a third party of the first threat through a state suicide hotline. The hotline was said to have been actively talking with the caller and communicating with law enforcement.

State, county and local law enforcement responded to what the school describe on their social media page as, “to a threat on campus the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was investigating the threat, and all through traffic would be stopped and no students released, until the clear was given.”