The Cayuga County Office Building on Genesee Street was locked down after a code purple - a high level of alert - was issued for the building Wednesday.

Sheriff Rob Outhouse increased personnel on the sixth floor after a problem with a witness testifying to the grand jury was reported on that floor. Outhouse also deployed extra law enforcement outside the building throughout the day.

Lee Brew, clerk of Legislature, informed employees of a code purple through e-mail. Brew did not elaborate on exactly what the potential threat to the building had been, but said it was the first time a level of alert that high had been called for the building.

Employees were asked to stay calm and quiet throughout the day. Employees could not evacuate the building and were asked to stay in their offices. The back doors, usually open during the day, were locked for safety.

Outhouse said that employees were very responsive to the request and stayed calm.

“The grand jury was in session while our employees were working,” Brew said. “We made the decision to make the call for the security of all our employees.”