Texas school shooting: Uvalde school district police chief put on administrative leave
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
UVALDE, Texas — Peter Arredondo, the police chief for the Texas school district where a mass shooter killed 19 students and two teachers last month, was placed on administrative leave by the Uvalde school superintendent amid criticism of police response at Robb Elementary School.
Dr. Hal Harrell, superintendent of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, made the announcement Wednesday evening, WOAI-TV reported. Lt. Mike Hernandez will take over Arredondo’s duties, according to the television station.
The move was announced a day after Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw criticized the police response to the May 24 shooting, saying Arredondo “decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children,” the Houston Chronicle reported.
“From the beginning of this horrible event, I shared that the district would wait until the investigation was complete before making personnel decisions,” Harrell said in a statement. “Today, I am still without details of the investigations being conducted by various agencies. 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.”
Harrell added that “no further information” would be disclosed about the personnel move.
The decision came a day after the Uvalde City Council unanimously denied a leave of absence to Arredondo, who is now a council member, KHOU-TV reported.
Arredondo testified Tuesday in a closed session to a Texas House committee seeking answers to what happened during the mass shooting at the elementary school, CNN reported. He has not spoken publicly about his decisions on the day of the shooting, according to the news outlet.
During a Texas Senate hearing, McCraw testified that Arredondo made “terrible decisions” as the on-site commander at the school on the day of the shooting, The Associated Press reported. McCraw added that the police response was “an abject failure.”
Three minutes after Salvador Ramos, 18, entered the school, sufficient armed law enforcement personnel were on the scene to stop the gunman, McCraw testified. Yet police officers armed with rifles waited in a school hallway for more than an hour, the AP reported.
Arredondo was sworn in as a councilman in a private ceremony the week after the shooting, KSAT-TV reported. He skipped the first city council meeting earlier this month, according to the television station.
He faces the possibility of his City Council seat being vacated if he misses the next two meetings, KENS-TV reported.
Texas School Shooting The Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, comforts families outside of the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Texas elementary school shooting: What we know about the victims Members of the community gather at the city of Uvalde Town Square for a prayer vigil in the wake of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images)
Photos: Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children, 2 adults dead People react outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Texas School Shooting The Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, right, comforts families outside of the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Photos: Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children, 2 adults dead The American flag flies at half staff on the White House after President Joe Biden spoke about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, from the White House, in Washington, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Photos: Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children, 2 adults dead President Joe Biden speaks to the nation about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, from the White House, in Washington, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, as first lady Jill Biden listens. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Photos: Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children, 2 adults dead President Joe Biden tells reporters he will speak about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, later in the evening as he arrives at the White House, in Washington, from his trip to Asia, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Photos: Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children, 2 adults dead People react outside the Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at a Texas elementary school, killing multiple people. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Photos: Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children, 2 adults dead People wait outside of the Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, killing multiple people. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel stand next to an armored vehicle outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel gather gear outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel, including the FBI, gather near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel, including the FBI, arrive at Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting A Texas State Police officer walks outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Law enforcement, and other first responders, gather outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Images from the Robb Elementary shooting Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, fourth from left, prays for her cousin Eliahana Torres and other victims, at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A woman walks toward Robb Elementary School to lay flowers for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a stand with an image depicting Jesus outside Robb Elementary School to place it around a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jessica Morales, whose cousin, Ellie Garcia, was killed in this week's elementary school shooting, writes encouraging words on her SUV in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. "You don't expect things like this to happen," said Morales. "It left a big hole in my heart." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper is handed flowers and stuffed animals outside Robb Elementary School to be placed at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Members of the Mennonite community of Uvalde sing hymns to offer comfort to people visiting a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Messages written in chalk decorate the footpaths at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A family prays at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A group of bikers pray outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Pastor Humberto Jnr, center, wearing a t-shirt that says "In Uvalde As In Heaven," leads a prayer circle at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A "Uvalde Strong" sign is posted on an electric pole in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. Nineteen children were looking forward to a summer filled with Girl Scouts and soccer and video games. Two teachers were closing out a school year that they started with joy and that had held such promise. They're the 21 people who were killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jarrod Tomassi, 45, holds an American flag outside Robb Elementary School while praying for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People carry flowers as they walk toward a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in the school shooting earlier in the week in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A man kisses the cross of Layla Salazar at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a sign handed to him to be place at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Bikers wear T-shirts that say "United with Uvalde" to honor victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Flowers and candles are placed around crosses at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A large teddy bear is placed at a memorial in front of crosses bearing the names of the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A law enforcement personnel stands next to a large teddy bear at a memorial honoring the victims in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People pay their respects at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People visit a memorial set up in a town square to honor the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper places a tiara on a cross honoring Ellie Garcia, one of the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Esmeralda Bravo, 63, sheds tears while holding a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Two family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School comfort each other during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School embrace each other after a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Stormy Flores, 11, sits with a sign bearing the names of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, far right, prays with a man during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The vigil was held to honor the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil A young girl listen to a message during a prayer vigil for the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, and Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco pray during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The vigil was held to honor the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Esmeralda Bravo, center, holds a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, as she is comforted by Nevaeh's cousin, Anayeli, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Family members and relatives of Nevaeh Bravo, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, attend a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil People listen to a message during a prayer vigil for the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)