UVALDE, TX (June 22, 2022)—Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police Chief Pete Arredondo has been placed on administrative leave amid criticism of the law enforcement response to the worst school shooting in Texas history.

Uvalde CISD Superintendent Hal Harrell announced the move in a news release Wednesday, just more than four weeks after the shooting.

Arredondo has come under scrutiny for his response to the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School, during which officers took over an hour to enter the room where the shooter killed 19 children and two teachers.

“Today, I am still without details of the investigations being conducted by various agencies,” he said. “Because of the lack of clarity that remains and the unknown timing of when I will receive the results of the investigations, I have made the decision to place Chief Arredondo on administrative leave effective on this date.”

the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Sol. Steve McCraw said “the only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children,” he said. “The officers have weapons. The children had none. The officers had body armor. The children had none. The officers had training. The subject had none.” 

McCraw added ,  the police lives were more valuable to them, more  than the lives of the children and teachers. 

Anne Marie Espinoza, director of communications and marketing for the school district, would not confirm if the leave was paid or unpaid. But 19 students, and 2 teachers were left inside of the Robb Elementary School on May 24 while a massacre took place before the Uvalde Police personnel decided to take action.

An attorney for Arredondo could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

Chief Arredondo and the 19 officers present during the sound of gun fire in Room 111 and 112 have not explained to the parents, community and State… why they should not be held for manslaughter.

___________________

Source: Texas Tribune and NBC News contributed to the article.