<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655938502609,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-fe9d-da96-ad7d-ffbf8a5c0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655938502609,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-fe9d-da96-ad7d-ffbf8a5c0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_55928744", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1038335"} }); ","_id":"00000181-8da0-d66a-a7c3-cfad46670000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedThe Uvalde, Texas, school district’s police chief, Pete Arredondo, has been placed on administrative leave effective Wednesday.
An announcement was made amid investigations into the law enforcement response during last month’s shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 19 students and two teachers dead. Arredondo, who took charge, has been criticized for how long it took authorities to stop the gunman.
OFFICERS WITH RIFLES AND BALLISTIC SHIELD ARRIVED AT UVALDE SCHOOL 19 MINUTES AFTER GUNMAN: REPORT
“From the beginning of this horrible event, I shared that the district would wait until the investigation was complete before making personnel decisions,” said Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Hal Harrell in a statement. “Because of the lack of clarity that remains and the unknown timing of when I will receive the results of the investigation, I have made the decision to place Chief Arredondo on administrative leave effective on this date.”
Investigations by state and federal agencies are scrutinizing a timeline of law enforcement’s response, questioning why it took over 70 minutes between when the gunman entered the classroom May 24 and when he was killed by law enforcement, even as trapped fourth graders called for help.
Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, slammed the police response to the shooting during a state Senate hearing Tuesday, saying it was an “abject failure.”
Arredondo has defended officers’ actions, claiming he wasn’t aware of the 911 calls and citing various reasons, such as a lack of tactical gear, for what took officers longer to take out the gunman. He provided a private testimony to lawmakers Tuesday.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Lt. Mike Hernandez has been selected to assume Arredondo’s role.
Arredondo also recently became a city councilman. He won the election before the shooting and was sworn in the week after the elementary school massacre.
