Uvalde police chief who delayed officer response to Texas capturing to join Metropolis Council

The police chief who reportedly made the call not to instantly send officers into Robb Elementary School to confront a gunman was elected to Uvalde's Metropolis Council just three weeks in the past after working on a platform of communication and outreach to the neighborhood. 

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent College District, stopped at least 19 officers from breaking into the school as the gunman opened fireplace for at least an hour.

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the youngsters weren't below an energetic risk, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Division of Public Security, mentioned Friday. 

“From the good thing about hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course, it was not the suitable decision. It was a fallacious decision. Interval. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw mentioned at a information conference. “There have been plenty of officers to do what needed to be achieved, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he needed more gear and extra officers to do a tactical breach at the moment."

In keeping with McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no energetic risk, so as an alternative of sending officers in, he hung out finding keys that may let him into the college. During this time, nevertheless, the shooter had unencumbered access to carry out the assault. Nineteen college students and two lecturers were killed.

Arredondo was not present among law enforcement officers standing with McCraw on Friday, and McCraw didn't explicitly name him.

Arredondo did not immediately return a request for comment by NBC News.

Because the neighborhood demands solutions and items collectively a shaky and conflicting timeline of occasions, scrutiny has turned to Arredondo, who was born and raised in Uvalde. 

After working because the police captain on the United Impartial College District in Laredo, Texas, about 140 miles south of Uvalde, Arredondo returned to his hometown in April 2020, when he accepted the position of chief of police for the Uvalde faculty district, in keeping with the Uvalde Chief-News.

The previous chief, Leo Flores, resigned after being arrested on costs of unlawfully carrying a gun in a bar and threatening an officer, the newspaper reported. 

Arredondo advised the Chief-News that he was desirous to serve the neighborhood, saying he was dedicated to establishing a powerful working relationship with the three officers he can be leading. 

“We wish to be sure we are available wherever we are wanted,” Arredondo informed the newspaper.

As Arredondo’s tenure hit two years, his local likability led to a profitable bid for a Metropolis Council seat this month. He beat out three different candidates, garnering nearly 70 % of the vote within the May 7 election, reported the Uvalde Leader-Information. 

The chief campaigned, largely door-to-door, on communication and outreach “to these in want,” the newspaper mentioned. 

“I’m very excited, I am able to hit the ground operating. I have loads of ideas, and I positively have plenty of drive,” Arredondo advised the outlet this month.

Arredondo is scheduled to be sworn onto the council on Tuesday, precisely one week after the Uvalde shooting.

Safia Samee Ali is a reporter for NBC Information Digital, based mostly in Chicago.