POCATELLO — The Pocatello Police Department is conducting an active shooter training exercise at Hawthorne Middle School.

The training began Tuesday morning and will continue until around 4 p.m., police said.

Numerous Pocatello police officers are at Hawthorne on West Eldredge Road for the training, which involves various active shooter scenarios at the school.

There have been rumors that police are at the school for an actual emergency but authorities said this is not the case.

With no classes at Hawthorne on Tuesday because of the Thanksgiving break, police decided it was a good day to conduct training there.

"Please be aware that an increased police presence will be in the area as part of this planned exercise," Pocatello police stated in a news release.