Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo fired over botched response to shooting that killed 19 students and 2 teachersFrom the time police entered the building May 24, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds passed until the gunman was killed.Tim Stelloh, Phil Helsel and Alicia Victoria Lozano | Aug. 24, 2022, 8:13 PM EDTUvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo was fired Wednesday by the Texas city’s school board.
The board voted unanimously in favor of the embattled chief's ouster after a recommendation from the school district superintendent.
Arredondo's removal caps off three months of outrage over the botched law enforcement response to a deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two teachers.
One hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds passed from the time police entered the building May 24 until the gunman was killed, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw has said.
Before Wednesday's vote at a special school board meeting, one speaker who appeared to be a child said: "I have messages for Pete Arredondo and all the law enforcement there that day. Turn in your badge and step down. You don’t deserve to wear one."
Arredondo did not attend the meeting that was called to address his employment. In a statement, his lawyer said Arredondo has faced death threats and did not believe the meeting was safe.
The lawyer, George Hyde, said it was “beyond any doubt that discharge from public employment under circumstances that put the employee’s reputation, honor or integrity at stake gives rise to a liberty interest” under the Constitution’s equal protection clause.
Hyde said that a person in those circumstances is entitled to a procedural opportunity to clear their name.
Hyde also portrayed Arredondo as a victim of those affected by the massacre. Instead of being able to lash out at the gunman, who was fatally shot by police, they sought “more retribution by identifying a new target to focus their grief on, with the belief that it will help them stop hurting,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it won’t,” Hyde said. “Retribution will not bring anyone back . . .
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uvalde-schools-police-chief-pete-arredondo-fired-botched-response-shoo-rcna39025