Law enforcement officials search a car for cop killer suspect John Williams on Mill Stream Road late evening on Thursday. (Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel)

Authorities on Friday again implored suspected police-killer John Williams to surrender peacefully, with the county sheriff saying they’ve learned that he may want to communicate with police.

“We will do anything to resolve this situation peacefully,” Sheriff Dale Lancaster said during a Friday morning press conference,. “It has come to our attention during this investigation that he might want to reach out and speak to us. I would like him to understand we are here. We are willing to listen. Please, reach out, and let’s start that communication.”

Police say John Williams, 29, of Madison is a suspect in the fatal shooting of a deputy. They consider him armed and dangerous.

State Police Lt. Col. John Cote said authorities now have a “good handle” on Williams’ activities in the 24-hour period before he allegedly shot and killed Cpl. Eugene Cole early Wednesday morning, but said what investigators are lacking is information and interactions anyone had with Williams after 2:30 a.m.

Cote asked anyone who’s had contact with Williams, including via text message or on social media, to immediately contact police.

Meanwhile, as the manhunt for Williams entered its third day on Friday, several area schools remained on heightened alert by locking-in students while school is in session.

That’s the case for School Administrative District 54, which serves the Skowhegan area, including Norridgewock, where Williams allegedly shot and killed Cpl. Eugene Cole of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department early Wednesday morning.

Brent Colbry, superintendent of SAD 54 schools, said in a notice that schools would remain under the same lock-in conditions of the previous two days as a precaution.

“We will again have administrators on site at each building and will be in communication with law enforcement throughout the day,” Colbry wrote.

Cole, 62, was shot and killed early Wednesday on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock, becoming the first Maine police officer killed in a shooting in nearly 30 years. He was a 13-year veteran of the department.

Williams, 29, of Madison, remains at large and is considered by police to be “armed and extremely dangerous.”

A massive police manhunt has been underway for Williams since Wednesday morning, involving the FBI and some 200 law enforcement officials who have scoured a number of locations across central Maine. Authorities told residents to keep their doors and cars locked and said officers have been assigned to area schools.

The FBI has announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Williams.

During Friday morning’s press conference, Lancaster said authorities set up roadblocks overnight and distributed more than 800 reward posters. Authorities searched locations, responded to eight calls that were processed through incident command center and “saturated” uniform patrols.

He said the manhunt on Friday would involve following up on more leads, deploying teams of officers door to door and concentrating search efforts on a wooded area off Martin Stream Road.

Williams was described as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing about 120 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Police said anyone who sees Williams should call 911 immediately.

The FBI has also described at least eight tattoos on Williams. One of them has the words “SEVEN ELEVEN” — an apparent reference to his birthday, July 11 — on his chest below his collarbones; and the abbreviation “est” between his pectorals. The name “WILLIAMS” appears on his lower abdomen, above his navel. He has a half-sleeve tattoo on his left arm, the word “Semper” on his upper right arm, the word “Fidelis” on his upper left arm, and a small “safety selector” symbol on the back of his left hand.

Williams also has the words “Molon Labe” — a Greek expression of defiance meaning “come and take” that has been adopted by some guns rights advocates — on his right forearm.

This story will be updated.