Daniel Rodriguez, the police chief of Uvalde, Texas, made the announcement of his resignation on Tuesday. He mentioned that his resignation will be effective from April 6.
Daniel Rodriguez, the police chief of Uvalde, Texas, announced his retirement on Tuesday, effective April 6.
“I believe it is time for me to embrace a new chapter in my career,” Rodriguez said in a statement on Tuesday.
“I’d like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to all of my colleagues and team members for their unwavering support, professionalism, and commitment to our common objective of serving and protecting the community. It has been a delight to work with such creative and dedicated people, and I will really miss our collaborations and camaraderie,” he stated.
“I have full confidence that the police department will continue to thrive under new leadership,” he said in a statement.
The resignation decision comes less than a week after the Uvalde City Council revealed the conclusions of an independent inquiry it commissioned to look into the behavior of Uvalde police officers who responded to the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022. The investigation revealed that none of the first five Uvalde police officers who reacted to the shooting broke protocol or engaged in severe wrongdoing, which shocked and enraged the victims’ relatives who attended the hearing.
Veronica Mata, whose 10-year-old daughter, Tess, was killed at Robb Elementary, stated about the chief’s departure, “He would rather retire than dismiss his pals. It was a convenient way out.
“We are still looking for accountability,” Mata told ABC News.
The massacre murdered 19 kids and two teachers. Responders waited 77 minutes at the scene before entering a classroom and executing the gunman.
Rodriguez was out of town when the incident occurred, but his cops were among the first to arrive at the site, according to the independent assessment.
Assistant Chief of Police. Homer Delgado will serve as interim chief of police as Uvalde’s mayor and city manager “search for a full-time replacement in consultation with the City Council,” according to Mayor Cody Smith.
“The City of Uvalde is grateful to Chief Rodriguez for his 26 years of service to our community, and we wish him the best as he pursues new career opportunities,” Smith said in a statement.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our community, and we look forward to working together to identify the best candidate to serve the people of Uvalde,” Smith said in a statement.
The Uvalde City Council had its regularly planned public meeting on Tuesday, just hours after Rodriguez announced his resignation, and indicated that they would not take any action against the report that evening. Mayor Smith informed the families who were present that the city required more time to evaluate the report.
Families expressed displeasure, saying they had anticipated the city would take disciplinary action.
Mayor Smith informed the families who were present that they required more time. Families expressed displeasure, saying they had anticipated the city would take disciplinary action.
Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter Lexi was killed in the incident, expressed her disappointment, adding, “The chief’s resignation doesn’t absolve you all.”
