Uvalde police chief who delayed officer response to Texas shooting to affix Metropolis Council

The police chief who reportedly made the decision to not instantly send officers into Robb Elementary College to confront a gunman was elected to Uvalde's Metropolis Council simply three weeks in the past after operating on a platform of communication and outreach to the community. 

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent College District, stopped at the least 19 officers from breaking into the school as the gunman opened hearth for not less than an hour.

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the children weren't below an lively threat, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Division of Public Safety, mentioned Friday. 

“From the advantage of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course, it was not the suitable resolution. It was a fallacious choice. Interval. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw stated at a news conference. “There were plenty of officers to do what needed to be carried out, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted extra gear and more officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

In accordance with McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no lively threat, so as a substitute of sending officers in, he frolicked discovering keys that may let him into the college. During this time, nevertheless, the shooter had unencumbered entry to hold out the assault. Nineteen college students and two academics have been killed.

Arredondo was not current among law enforcement officials standing with McCraw on Friday, and McCraw did not explicitly name him.

Arredondo didn't instantly return a request for remark by NBC News.

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

After working because the police captain on the United Unbiased School 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 college district, in line with the Uvalde Leader-News.

The former 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 told the Leader-Information that he was eager to serve the community, saying he was dedicated to establishing a strong working relationship with the three officers he would be leading. 

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

As Arredondo’s tenure hit two years, his native likability led to a successful bid for a City Council seat this month. He beat out three other candidates, garnering almost 70 percent of the vote in the Could 7 election, reported the Uvalde Chief-Information. 

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

“I’m very excited, I'm able to hit the bottom running. I have loads of ideas, and I undoubtedly have plenty of drive,” Arredondo advised the outlet this month.

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

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