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

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

Peter Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent College District, stopped at the least 19 officers from breaking into the college as the gunman opened fireplace for at least an hour.

Arredondo believed that the shooter had barricaded himself and that the youngsters weren't below an lively threat, Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Security, said Friday. 

“From the benefit of hindsight the place I’m sitting now, of course, it was not the proper determination. It was a flawed decision. Interval. There was no excuse for that,” McCraw mentioned at a information conference. “There have been plenty of officers to do what needed to be completed, with one exception, is that the incident commander inside believed he wanted more tools and more officers to do a tactical breach at that time."

In line with McCraw, Arredondo believed there was no lively risk, so as a substitute of sending officers in, he spent time finding keys that will let him into the varsity. During this time, nonetheless, the shooter had unencumbered access to hold out the attack. Nineteen college students and two academics were killed.

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

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

As the community demands answers and pieces collectively 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 on the United Unbiased 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 school district, in accordance with the Uvalde Chief-Information.

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

Arredondo advised the Chief-News that he was wanting to serve the community, saying he was committed to establishing a strong working relationship with the three officers he could be leading. 

“We wish to be certain we can be found wherever we're needed,” Arredondo informed the newspaper.

As Arredondo’s tenure hit two years, his local likability led to a successful bid for a City Council seat this month. He beat out three other candidates, garnering practically 70 % of the vote within the Might 7 election, reported the Uvalde Chief-Information. 

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

“I’m very excited, I am able to hit the ground working. I have loads of concepts, and I positively have loads of drive,” Arredondo informed 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.