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

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

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Impartial Faculty District, stopped at the very least 19 officers from breaking into the college because the gunman opened fireplace for no less than an hour.

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the kids were not underneath an lively risk, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, mentioned Friday. 

“From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, in fact, it was not the appropriate decision. It was a mistaken resolution. Interval. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw stated at a news conference. “There were plenty of officers to do what wanted to be completed, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted more gear and extra officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

Based on McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no active threat, so instead of sending officers in, he spent time finding keys that might let him into the college. Throughout this time, nevertheless, the shooter had unencumbered access to hold out the attack. Nineteen college students and two lecturers had been killed.

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

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

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

After working as the police captain on the United Unbiased Faculty 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 faculty district, in keeping with the Uvalde Leader-News.

The previous chief, Leo Flores, resigned after being arrested on fees of unlawfully carrying a gun in a bar and threatening an officer, the newspaper reported. 

Arredondo informed the Chief-Information that he was desperate to serve the neighborhood, saying he was dedicated to establishing a robust working relationship with the three officers he could be main. 

“We need to make certain we are available wherever we're needed,” Arredondo advised the newspaper.

As Arredondo’s tenure hit two years, his local likability led to a profitable bid for a City Council seat this month. He beat out three different candidates, garnering practically 70 p.c of the vote in the May 7 election, reported the Uvalde Leader-Information. 

The chief campaigned, largely door-to-door, on communication and outreach “to those in want,” the newspaper said. 

“I’m very excited, I'm ready to hit the bottom operating. I have plenty 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 News Digital, based in Chicago.