TL/DR –
Uvalde, Texas police chief Daniel Rodriguez announced his resignation five days after a report defended the police’s response to a 2022 school shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 21 dead and elicited criticism from victims’ families. The report, authored by an investigator hired by the city, concluded there was no wrongdoing by any officers on the day of the shooting, contradicting a Justice Department report’s critique of “cascading failures of leadership.” Rodriguez, who was not present on the day of the shooting and has served 26 years on the force, will step down on April 6 and be replaced by interim chief Homer Delgado.
Uvalde Police Chief Announces Resignation Amid Criticism Over Elementary School Shooting Response
The Police Chief of Uvalde, Texas, Daniel Rodriguez, announced his resignation Tuesday morning, sparking uproar from the community and the families of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022. The resignation comes five days after a city-hired investigator defended the police officers’ response to the shooting, causing outrage among the victims’ families.
While Rodriguez, who was on vacation during the shooting, didn’t mention the shooting or the report in his statement on stepping down, residents expressed their dissatisfaction with a lack of accountability.
Uvalde Mayor Cody Smith confirmed that Assistant Chief of Police Homer Delgado will step in as interim chief, adding that the city’s prime focus is the safety of the community.
The community continued to voice their frustration during a Uvalde City Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Many felt that Rodriguez’s resignation fell short of taking responsibility for the actions of his officers on the day of the deadly shooting in 2022.
The Council’s first regular meeting since the delivery of the controversial 182-page report conducted by investigator Jesse Prado, saw community members demanding the city reject the report. Prado’s report concluded there was no wrongdoing by officers at the scene, instead highlighting a lack of resources.
However, the report contradicts the Justice Department’s findings, released in January, which criticized the officers’ actions and the fatal consequences. The federal report stated that the response lacked urgency, leading to unnecessary loss of life. It highlighted a series of “cascading failures of leadership.“
The victims’ families expressed anger at Prado’s findings, urging for accountability and questioning why the police chief allowed officers to remain on the force after their delayed response to the shooting.
Several community members expressed disappointment at Rodriguez’s absence from the meeting, with some insisting he should be terminated, not allowed to resign.
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