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Pete Arredondo, the chief of the varsity district police drive in Uvalde, Texas, resigned as a member of the Uvalde Metropolis Council on Friday amid continued outrage over the gradual police response to a taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty in Could.
In a letter addressed to the town, Mr. Arredondo mentioned that after a lot consideration, “it’s in the most effective curiosity of the neighborhood to step down as a member of the Metropolis Council for District 3 to reduce additional distractions.”
He added that the mayor, the town council and the town workers “should proceed to maneuver ahead to unite our neighborhood, as soon as once more.”
His resignation was first reported by The Uvalde Chief-Information.
Mr. Arredondo was elected to the town council shortly earlier than a gunman killed 19 college students and two academics at Robb Elementary Faculty on Could 24. On June 22, Uvalde’s college police drive introduced that it had positioned Mr. Arredondo on administrative go away after the state’s high legislation enforcement chief referred to as the police response “an abject failure.”
Mr. Arredondo was among the many first officers to reach on the college after the taking pictures started. In response to the director of the state police, Steven McCraw, he was additionally the incident commander for the response. Although officers from a number of companies entered the varsity minutes after a gunman opened fireplace in two related lecture rooms, they waited greater than an hour earlier than confronting and killing him.
Mr. Arredondo has defended his decision-making that day and mentioned in an interview with The Texas Tribune that he didn’t consider that he was accountable for the response. The taking pictures and the police response are the topics of a number of investigations, together with one by the U.S. Justice Division.
After Mr. Arredondo was sworn in as a council member, he didn’t seem at any council conferences.
“I feel it was the best factor for him to do,” Don McLaughlin, the mayor of Uvalde, mentioned in a textual content message of Mr. Arredondo’s determination to resign. “We didn’t know something about it till we noticed it posted on the paper’s web site.”
On June 21, metropolis council members met to debate Mr. Arredondo’s request for a go away of absence. One after the other, Uvalde residents stood earlier than the council and referred to as for Mr. Arredondo to step down.
First to the rostrum was Jazmin Cazares, 17, who misplaced her sister and cousin within the taking pictures.
“After selecting to attend an hour for backup, as an alternative of ordering officers to take down the shooter, he’s confirmed he can not do his job,” Ms. Cazares mentioned. “How am I speculated to give up grieving, particularly figuring out he did nothing to guard my sister, my cousin, her mates and her academics?” After extra residents spoke, the Uvalde Metropolis Council voted to disclaim Mr. Arredondo’s request for a go away of absence.
One week later, a neighborhood nonetheless reeling from grief welcomed the information of Mr. Arredondo’s resignation.
Martin Herrera, who misplaced a grandson and has been serving to a surviving granddaughter recuperate from the horror of the day, referred to as the resignation a step in the best path. Mr. Herrera mentioned Mr. Arredondo also needs to vacate his put up as the varsity police chief instantly. However Mr. Herrera mentioned he additionally needed to see others who botched the response and the aftermath face penalties.
Leonard Sandoval, whose grandson Xavier Lopez was killed within the taking pictures, mentioned Mr. Arredondo “ought to have resigned loads sooner.”
Hugo Cervantes, one of many residents who rushed to Robb Elementary Faculty after listening to photographs fired, mentioned Mr. Arredondo’s determination gave the impression to be not more than one other improvement that delayed justice for the households. He recalled pleading with armed officers to enter the varsity and being advised that “all the pieces was OK,” although folks may nonetheless hear gunshots.
“The reality is that they may have saved many kids and didn’t,” Mr. Cervantes mentioned. “That is all too little, too late.”
J. David Goodman contributed reporting.
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