Uvalde school district suspends entire police force


Uvalde, Texas school officials on Friday suspended all district police department activities and "placed two of its officers on paid administrative leave," The Texas Tribune reports. The district cited "recent developments that have uncovered additional concerns with department operations" in its decision, which it said will remain in effect for "a period of time."
In May, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire inside Uvalde's Robb Elementary School, killing 19 students and two teachers. The delayed police response to the massacre has since been under investigation. School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, one of the first officers on the scene, was fired in August for his handling of the incident.
On Friday, the district placed Lt. Miguel Hernandez and district Director of Student Services Ken Mueller on leave; the police department's other officers will take on new roles in the district, the Tribune reports, per a press release. Mueller decided himself to retire, the release adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The district remains committed to resolving issues with verifiable evidence," it said. "Decisions concerning the [Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District] police department have been pending the results of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and JPPI investigation. Recent developments have uncovered additional concerns with department operations."
Otherwise, UCISD said it has requested more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers "to be stationed on campuses and at extra-curricular activities."
On Thursday, UCISD fired a newly-hired officer — Crimson Elizondo — after CNN identified her as one of the officers under investigation in the shooting.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
America's favorite fast food restaurants
The Explainer There are different ways of thinking about how Americans define how they most like to spend their money on burgers, tacos and fried chicken
-
Law: The battle over birthright citizenship
Feature Trump shifts his focus to nationwide injunctions after federal judges block his attempt to end birthright citizenship
-
The threat to the NIH
Feature The Trump administration plans drastic cuts to medical research. What are the ramifications?
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'
speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
-
Judge ends Eric Adams case, Trump leverage
Speed Read Federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were dismissed, as requested by Trump's Justice Department
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said