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

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

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent Faculty District, stopped at the least 19 officers from breaking into the school as the gunman opened fire for not 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, stated Friday. 

“From the good thing about hindsight where I’m sitting now, in fact, it was not the suitable decision. It was a mistaken decision. Period. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw said at a news convention. “There were loads of officers to do what wanted to be performed, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted extra tools and extra officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

In keeping with McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no active threat, so as a substitute of sending officers in, he spent time finding keys that might let him into the college. During this time, however, the shooter had unencumbered entry to carry out the assault. Nineteen students and two teachers have been killed.

Arredondo was not present amongst law enforcement officers standing with McCraw on Friday, and McCraw didn't explicitly title him.

Arredondo did not instantly return a request for remark by NBC News.

As the group calls for answers 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 at the United Independent College 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, in accordance with the Uvalde Leader-Information.

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

Arredondo informed the Leader-News that he was eager to serve the neighborhood, saying he was dedicated to establishing a robust working relationship with the three officers he would be leading. 

“We want to ensure we are available wherever we're needed,” Arredondo instructed the newspaper.

As Arredondo’s tenure hit two years, his native likability led to a profitable bid for a Metropolis Council seat this month. He beat out three different candidates, garnering almost 70 % of the vote within the Might 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 am able to hit the bottom operating. I have loads of concepts, and I positively have loads of drive,” Arredondo advised the outlet this month.

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

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