The regulation enforcement response to the Uvalde college capturing that killed 19 kids and two lecturers was “an abject failure” during which a commander put the lives of officers over these of the kids, Texas Division of Public Security Director Steven McCraw mentioned on Tuesday.
The police response to the Uvalde college capturing was “an abject failure”: Steven McCraw.Credit score:AP Photograph/Wong Maye-E
“There’s compelling proof that the regulation enforcement response to the assault at Robb Elementary was an abject failure and antithetical to every thing we’ve realized,” McCraw mentioned at a Texas Senate listening to into the Could 24 mass capturing.
Police actions after the gunman entered Robb Elementary College and started capturing have come below shut scrutiny amid anguished mother and father’ anger over the response.
“Three minutes after the topic entered the west constructing, there was a ample variety of armed officers sporting physique armour to isolate, distract and neutralise the topic,” McCraw added.
“The one factor stopping a hallway of devoted officers from getting into Room 111, and 112, was the on-scene commander, who determined to put the lives of officers earlier than the lives of youngsters,” the director mentioned within the listening to.
Uvalde colleges police chief Pete Arredondo mentioned earlier this month he by no means thought of himself the incident commander of the scene of the capturing, and that he didn’t order police to carry again on breaching the constructing.
Neighborhood members together with mother and father of the victims urged Arredondo to resign throughout an impassioned college board assembly on Monday night time, ABC Information reported.
Reuters
