AUBURN — Local police announced Thursday they plan to patrol the city’s churches this weekend in response to the killing of more than two dozen people at a Texas church on Sunday.

The police department posted the information on its Facebook page, apparently in an effort to reassure churchgoers that they will be safe attending services at their respective houses of worship.

“As our nation mourns Sunday’s tragic loss of life in Sutherland Springs, Texas, we know that many people are now thinking about their own safety when attending future church services,” the post reads.

The department lacks the personnel to be stationed at all of the city’s nearly 30 churches, but on-duty officers plan to patrol areas near where services are scheduled, the post reads.

Deputy Chief Jason Moen said Thursday the stepped-up efforts are not in response to any specific threats in the city.

“We are merely trying to be proactive in light of what happened in Texas,” he wrote in an email.

He said he wasn’t aware of any similar efforts in any other municipalities.

The department also is offering to visit any house of worship to assess the facility for safety and make recommendations.

Church leaders are encouraged to contact Lt. Anthony Harrington at 333-6650 x 2035 or aharrington@auburnmaine.gov to provide the department with a schedule of services, emergency contact information and to schedule a site visit.