The former schools police chief in Uvalde, Texas, made his first court appearance on criminal charges that accuse him of failing to take sufficient action during the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022
AUSTIN, Texas — The former Uvalde, Texas, school police chief made his first court appearance Monday on criminal charges that accuse him of failing to take sufficient action during the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022 that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Pete Arredondo has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of child endangerment and abandonment. He was indicted earlier this year along with Adrian Gonzales, another former Uvalde school police officer, who faces similar charges and pleaded not guilty during a court hearing in July.
Family members of some of the victims attended the procedural pretrial hearing in Uvalde. Another court hearing was scheduled for later this year.
Attorneys for Arredondo filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that the former chief should not be held responsible for the actions he didn’t take that day. The judge did not make a ruling on the motion Monday.
The indictment alleges that Arredondo did not follow his active shooter training and made critical decisions that slowed the police response while the gunman was “hunting” victims.
Arredondo has said he’s been “ scapegoated ” for his role in the law enforcement response and should not have been considered the lead commander.
Nearly 400 officers from federal, state and local agencies waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the gunman at Robb Elementary. Multiple state and federal investigations have pointed to failures in communication, leadership and training for law enforcement’s response.
A federal review from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility released Thursday found similar breakdowns in communication and command among Border Patrol agents.
The former schools police chief and Gonzalez, who was indicted on 29 similar counts of endangerment and abandonment, are the only two officers facing criminal charges.
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Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Former Uvalde schools police chief, Michael Guevara, recently appeared in court following his indictment on charges of official oppression and tampering with government records. The indictment stems from an incident that occurred last year when Guevara allegedly used excessive force while arresting a student at Uvalde High School.
According to reports, Guevara was caught on video violently restraining the student, who was not resisting arrest. The video footage sparked outrage in the community and led to an investigation by the Texas Rangers. The investigation found that Guevara had falsified his report of the incident, leading to the charges of tampering with government records.
During his court appearance, Guevara pleaded not guilty to the charges and his attorney argued that he was simply following protocol in dealing with a disruptive student. However, prosecutors presented evidence that Guevara’s actions were unjustified and violated the student’s rights.
The case has raised concerns about the use of force by school police officers and the need for proper training and oversight in school policing. Many are calling for reforms to ensure that students are treated fairly and respectfully by law enforcement officers on school campuses.
The Uvalde Independent School District has since terminated Guevara’s employment and issued a statement condemning his actions. The district has also implemented new policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
As the case against Guevara moves forward, it serves as a reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions, especially when they involve vulnerable populations such as students. It also highlights the need for transparency and accountability in school policing to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.
