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

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

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

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the children were not under an energetic threat, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Friday. 

“From the advantage of hindsight where I’m sitting now, after all, it was not the right choice. It was a unsuitable decision. Interval. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw mentioned at a information convention. “There were plenty of officers to do what needed to be done, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted extra equipment and extra officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

In response to McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no active threat, so as a substitute of sending officers in, he frolicked finding keys that may let him into the school. Throughout this time, nevertheless, the shooter had unencumbered access to hold out the assault. Nineteen college students and two lecturers were killed.

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

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

As the group calls for answers and items together 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 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, based on the Uvalde Chief-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 instructed the Chief-News that he was desirous to serve the neighborhood, saying he was dedicated to establishing a strong working relationship with the three officers he would be leading. 

“We want to be sure we can be found wherever we are needed,” 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 Might 7 election, reported the Uvalde Chief-Information. 

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

“I’m very excited, I'm ready to hit the bottom operating. I have loads of concepts, and I undoubtedly have loads of drive,” Arredondo informed the outlet this month.

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

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