Uvalde police chief who delayed officer response to Texas capturing to join City Council

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

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Unbiased College District, stopped at least 19 officers from breaking into the varsity because the gunman opened hearth for a minimum of an hour.

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the youngsters were not below an lively risk, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Security, stated Friday. 

“From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, after all, it was not the suitable choice. It was a fallacious decision. Period. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw said at a information conference. “There were loads of officers to do what wanted to be executed, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted extra tools and more officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

In response to McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no energetic threat, so as an alternative of sending officers in, he spent time finding keys that might let him into the college. Throughout this time, nonetheless, the shooter had unencumbered entry to hold out the assault. Nineteen students and two teachers had been killed.

Arredondo was not current amongst law enforcement officers standing with McCraw on Friday, and McCraw did not explicitly title him.

Arredondo didn't immediately return a request for remark by NBC News.

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

After working because the police captain at 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 place of chief of police for the Uvalde school district, according to the Uvalde Chief-News.

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

Arredondo advised the Leader-News that he was desirous to serve the group, saying he was committed to establishing a robust working relationship with the three officers he can be main. 

“We wish to be sure we can be found wherever we are wanted,” Arredondo advised the newspaper.

As Arredondo’s tenure hit two years, his native likability led to a successful bid for a Metropolis Council seat this month. He beat out three other candidates, garnering practically 70 percent 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 mentioned. 

“I’m very excited, I'm ready to hit the bottom working. I've loads of ideas, and I undoubtedly have plenty of drive,” Arredondo instructed the outlet this month.

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

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