The police chief of Uvalde, Texas, Daniel Rodriguez, announced his resignation effective April 6, following controversy over the handling of a school shooting in 2022. The incident, where a gunman invaded a school and killed 19 children and two teachers, raised concerns about the response of law enforcement.
Rodriguez’s resignation came shortly after the Uvalde City Council released an independent investigation into the shooting, which exonerated the responding officers.
This move follows previous reports by the Justice Department and Texas lawmakers that criticized the officers’ actions during the incident, particularly for not immediately confronting the gunman.
While Rodriguez stated that his resignation was not forced, he emphasized his belief that it was time to embrace a new chapter in his career.
Mayor Cody Smith expressed gratitude for Rodriguez’s service and announced that assistant chief of police Homer Delgado would serve as interim chief while the search for a permanent replacement takes place.
The independent investigator of the shooting, Jesse Prado, a retired Austin police detective, concluded in the city council report that the responding officers had followed department policies and had acted in good faith.
However, this characterization was met with frustration from the families of the victims, who attended a city council meeting where the investigation results were presented.
The resignation of Chief Rodriguez reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the handling of the tragic school shooting, with questions persisting about the adequacy of law enforcement response protocols in such situations.
