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After a string of failures brought to light after the Uvalde school shooting, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) announced it was suspending its entire school police force.
In a Friday statement, the district said it had "made the decision to suspend all activities of the Uvalde CISD Police Department for a period of time."
"Officers currently employed will fill other roles in the district," the district said, adding that the actions were made as a result of "recent developments." It is unclear how long the suspension of the department may be.
CNN reported on Wednesday that newly-hired school officer Crimson Elizondo was one of the state troopers being investigated for her actions during the shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24.
On Thursday, the district fired Elizondo, who was one of the first 91 Department of Public Safety officers to arrive at Robb Elementary School after the gunman entered the building. She is among seven DPS personnel who are now under investigation by the agency's inspector general.
The massacre is the nation's third-deadliest school shooting, with 21 fatalities, including 19 school-aged children. Another 17 people were also injured in the shooting.
On Friday, the district announced it had requested the Texas Department of Public Safety to provide extra troopers to be stationed on campus and at extra-curricular activities for the time being.
"We are confident that staff and student safety will not be compromised during this transition," the Uvalde CISD said.
The district also announced that Lieutenant Miguel Hernandez, who was to lead the department following the attack, and Ken Mueller, the Uvalde CISD's director of student services, had been placed on administrative leave. Mueller elected to retire.
Asked about Elizondo's firing on Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, "she had actions inconsistent with training and department requirements."
"So that school district had full information about the person they chose to go ahead and hire, and that's up to the school district, not DPS, not anybody else, to have to own up to the poor decision they made," Abbott said.
The law enforcement officers who responded to the Uvalde shooting have been heavily criticized for waiting up to 77 minutes before confronting the gunman, leaving him alone with dead, injured, and traumatized victims while officers stood outside.
The parents and families of the 19 victims have demanded that every officer involved be held accountable and fired.
Newsweek reached out to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District for comment.
About the writer
Katherine Fung is a Newsweek senior reporter based in New York City. She has covered U.S. politics and culture extensively. ... Read more