Uvalde School Police Chief Steps Down From City Council Amid Criticism For Mass Shooting Response

Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo has resigned from the city council of Uvalde, Texas, weeks after he was sworn in amid harsh criticism for his response to the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

Arredondo told the Uvalde Leader-News Friday he decided to step down to allow the mayor, the city council and the city staff to “move forward without distractions,” adding he felt it was the “best decision for Uvalde.”

The move comes after the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District placed Arredondo on administrative leave in June after the police chief was heavily criticized for his handling of the shooting at Robb Elementary School—where Arredondo was the on-site commander—which left 19 students and two teachers dead, after law enforcement waited more than an hour to approach the shooter.