The top prosecutor for Franklin and Hampshire counties said Tuesday that reports that a retired mathematics teacher at Deerfield Academy, an exclusive prep school in Western Massachusetts, had sexual contact with a student in the 1980s are “deeply disturbing.”

“Deerfield Academy appears to be taking an important first step to independently investigate inappropriate contacts ­between a former teacher, Peter Hindle, and a student,” said a statement issued by Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan.

Sullivan said State Police ­detectives attached to his office can assist any former students who would like to report misconduct by Hindle.

On Monday, Deerfield said that Hindle admitted to having “sexual contact” with a student.

Hindle, 78, of Dartmouth, said Monday that in his view, “it’s all how something is interpreted,” when asked if he had made an admission.

Ian C. ­Hammon, 41, an alumnus of Deerfield, told the Globe Tuesday that Hindle had massaged his legs in his dorm room in 1988. Hindle did not return a call seeking comment on the statement by Hammon.