Daniel Rodriguez is the police chief of Uvalde, Texas, but not for long. He announced his resignation on Tuesday, taking effect on April 6.
On Tuesday, he revealed that it was time to move on to a new chapter in his career. “I want to express my deepest appreciation to all of my colleagues and team members for their unwavering support, professionalism, and dedication to our shared mission of serving and protecting the community,” he said.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside such talented and committed individuals. And I will genuinely miss our collaborations and camaraderie,” he continued. “I have full confidence that the police department will continue to thrive under new leadership.”
Rodriguez’s resignation announcement follows the Uvalde City Council releasing the findings of the independent report it commissioned to investigate the actions of Uvalde police officers who responded to the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.
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The outcome of the investigation was that none of the initial five Uvalde police officers who responded to the shooting violated policy or committed serious acts of misconduct. It was good news for the five cops. But the victims’ families who attended the hearing were not happy about it.
Veronica Mata lost her 10-year-old daughter, Tess, during the Robb Elementary shooting. Here’s what she said of the chief’s resignation, “He would rather resign than fire his friends. It was an easy way out.”
“We are still looking for accountability,” Mata has said. The shooting claimed the lives of nineteen students and two teachers. Responders were at the scene for up to 77 minutes before breaching a classroom and killing the gunman.
Rodriguez was out of town on the day of the shooting. However, his officers were among the first to respond to the scene. Assistant Chief of Police Homer Delgado will assume Rodriguez’s position as interim chief of police. In the meantime, the search is on for a “full-time replacement in consultation with the City Council.”
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“The City of Uvalde is grateful to Chief Rodriguez for his 26 years of service to our community, and we wish him the best as he pursues new career opportunities,” Uvalde Mayor Cody Smith said in his statement.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our community, and we look forward to working together to identify the best candidate to serve the people of Uvalde,” Smith added.
Hours after Rodriguez announced his resignation, the Uvalde City Council convened for its public meeting on Tuesday. At that meeting, they announced they wouldn’t take any action against the report that evening.
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Mayor Smith begged the families who were present to be patient as the city needed more time to review the report. It was not what people wanted to hear, and families reacted in frustration, saying they had hoped the city would have moved forward with disciplinary measures.
Kimberly Mata-Rubio also lost her daughter Lexi in the shooting. She was one of those who voiced her frustration, saying, “The chief’s resignation doesn’t absolve you all.”
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