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

The police chief who reportedly made the decision not to instantly send officers into Robb Elementary School 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 neighborhood. 

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Unbiased Faculty District, stopped at least 19 officers from breaking into the varsity because the gunman opened fireplace for at the very least an hour.

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the youngsters weren't under an active threat, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Division of Public Security, stated Friday. 

“From the advantage of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course, it was not the right resolution. It was a flawed choice. Interval. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw stated at a news convention. “There were plenty of officers to do what needed to be achieved, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted more equipment and extra officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

Based on McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no energetic risk, so instead of sending officers in, he frolicked finding keys that will let him into the varsity. Throughout this time, nevertheless, the shooter had unencumbered entry to hold out the attack. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed.

Arredondo was not present amongst regulation enforcement officers standing with McCraw on Friday, and McCraw did not explicitly name him.

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

Because the community calls for solutions and pieces 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 Unbiased School 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, in keeping with the Uvalde Leader-Information.

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

Arredondo informed the Leader-News that he was desperate to serve the community, saying he was dedicated to establishing a powerful working relationship with the three officers he would be main. 

“We wish to be sure we are available wherever we are wanted,” Arredondo instructed 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 almost 70 % of the vote in the Might 7 election, reported the Uvalde Leader-Information. 

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

“I’m very excited, I'm able to hit the ground working. I've plenty of ideas, and I undoubtedly have plenty of drive,” Arredondo informed the outlet this month.

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

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