Former School Police Chief Pete Arredondo Under Fire for Response to Robb Elementary School Shooting

Former school police chief Pete Arredondo has come under fire for his response to the Robb Elementary School shooting last May, which left 19 students and two teachers dead. In a video interview with investigators the day after the massacre, Arredondo said he was more concerned about protecting students in other classrooms than trying to stop the shooter.

Arredondo has been criticized for treating the shooter as a “barricaded subject” rather than an active shooter, going against police training and protocol. In the video interview, Arredondo said he was primarily concerned with protecting those outside the classroom where the gunman had holed up with children.

The video recording of the previously unreported interview shows some of Arredondo’s answers conflicting with his limited public statements. After the director of the inquiry labeled him as incident commander and blamed him for decisions that left dead, dying and traumatized, Arredondo stopped cooperating with the investigation.

The Robb Elementary School shooting has sparked a nationwide debate about school safety and the role of police in responding to active shooter situations. Arredondo’s response to the shooting has been heavily scrutinized and has raised questions about the effectiveness of police training and protocols.

The Uvalde community continues to mourn the loss of the 19 students and two teachers who were killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting. The school district has implemented new safety protocols and is working to ensure that all students and staff are safe and secure.