The Uvalde, Texas school district, still facing lingering criticism over the failings of its police department both during and since the May 24 elementary school massacre, announced Friday the suspension of all district police.
The district said it has asked for more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to be stationed on campuses and at after-school activities, adding, “We are confident that the safety of staff and students will not be compromised during this transition.”
The length of the school district police department’s suspension is unclear.
Lt. Miguel Hernandez, who was tasked with leading the department in the aftermath of the attack, and Ken Mueller, director of student services for the Uvalde Independent School District, were placed on administrative leave. Mueller decided to retire, according to the school district.
“The officials who are currently employed will be taking on other roles in the district,” the school district said. According to the district’s website, it includes four officers and a security guard.
The families of the victims, who had held a 24-hour vigil outside school district headquarters to demand change, said they were pleased by Friday’s announcement.
Family members of Robb Elementary School victims and their supporters demonstrate at the Uvalde School District offices on September 29, 2022.
Kate Holland/ABC News
Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter, Lexi, was killed at Robb Elementary, praised the department-wide suspension.
“They don’t know how to hire people, they don’t know how to supervise the agents,” said Rubio. “They haven’t provided the proper training.”
Friday’s news was “what we’ve been asking for, it’s more than we’ve been asking for,” he said.
Gloria Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie was killed, called Friday’s announcement “bittersweet.”
“It’s a victory, a small victory,” he told ABC News. “We’re not done.”
The school district’s move comes a day after the firing of Crimson Elizondo, an officer who was hired by the Uvalde school district despite being under investigation for his conduct as a DPS officer during the massacre, who paid the lives of 19 students and two teachers.
An officer leaves Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022.
Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images
Elizondo was the first DPS member to enter the hallway at Robb Elementary School after the shooter entered. Police did not bring their rifles or vests to school, according to the results of an internal DPS review that was detailed to ABC News.
As a result of a possible failure to follow standard procedures, the trooper was among seven DPS members whose conduct is now being investigated by the agency’s inspector general. All seven were suspended, but because Elizondo resigned from DPS to work in Uvalde schools, she was no longer subject to any internal discipline or sanctions. Your conduct, if found to be in violation of law or policy, will still be included in the DPS Inspector General’s final report.
Hernandez, the acting police chief, is the officer who acknowledged receiving formal notification from DPS in July that Elizondo was under investigation.
The school district said in Friday’s statement that “decisions regarding” the school district’s police department are pending the results of investigations by the Texas Association of Chiefs of Police and private investigative firm JPPI Investigations. but “recent developments have uncovered additional concerns with the department’s operations.”
The results of the JPPI investigation “will inform future personnel decisions,” and the Texas Association of Chiefs of Police review “will guide the rebuilding of the department and the hiring of a new police chief,” the statement said.
The school district’s police chief, Pete Arredondo, was fired in August.
ABC News’ Patrick Linehan and Olivia Osteen contributed to this report.