(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Peter Arredondo, whose judgment delayed entry into an Uvalde elementary school as an active shooter was present, has been sworn in as a city councilman.
The news comes just as it was made clear that the Uvalde Police Department would no longer cooperate with the state of Texas in the investigation of the Robb Elementary School incident, the Washington Examiner reported.
According to Travis Considine, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, “[Arredondo] did an initial interview but has not responded to a request for a followup interview that was made two days ago.”
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin wrote a statement releasing the council news, rather than holding the usual ceremony due to the ongoing funerals for the deceased children and adults.
“Uvalde City Council members were sworn in today as per the City Charter,” McLaughlin wrote.
“Out of respect for the families who buried their children today, and who are planning to bury their children in the next few days, no ceremony was held.”
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has questioned the conduct of the new councilman, suggesting earlier this week that state officials were “not told the truth” about the police response to the shooter.
McLaughlin, who had previously suggested that Patrick was lying, walked back those claims, suggesting that he did not understand Patrick’s initial criticisms.
“Our parents deserve answers,” he said. “Our emotions are raw and hearts are broken, and words are sometimes exchanged because of those emotions.”
“I want Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to know that I misunderstood statements I thought he had said. … I ask everyone to pray for us, the citizens of Uvalde, as we grieve and live through the pain and the healing process.”
