Amanda Ross – Secretary

amr8469@psu.edu

Uvalde police chief Daniel Rodriguez has announced his resignation, which will take effect on April 6. This comes just days after the Uvalde City Council released its report on its investigation into the mass shooting in May of 2022. Daniel Rodriguez announced that he would be resigning from his position of police chief on March 12, 2024. He gave a statement thanking his soon-to-be former coworkers, and said it was “a privilege to work alongside such talented and committed individuals…” However, there are questions regarding the reasoning behind his resignation, especially concerning its timing. The police department in Uvalde has received intense criticism since the 2022 mass shooting, with many believing that the lack of action from police during the shooting contributed to the severity of injuries and casualties. 

The Uvalde shooting occurred on May 24, 2022. A later Department of Justice investigation identified severe issues in law enforcement’s response on scene, including a lack of central command and organization. This, among other issues, led to law enforcement waiting 77 minutes before disarming the gunman. There was also mishandling of later evidence, and disorganization in the reporting of dead and reunification of families. During this time, Rodreiguez was not in Uvalde. Yet he has still faced backlash as it was his officers who responded on the day of the shooting.

While this scrutiny has died down in the two years following the incident, the Uvalde City Council recently released a report based on its independent investigation of the shooting. It is possible this report may have accelerated any existing plans Rodriguez had to leave. The report itself however is proving controversial. The report found none of the five initial responders to the shooting had committed any serious violation of policy or misconduct, to the anger of many. Some of the families most closely affected have seen the report as a mishandling of justice, and lacking in accountability. Others have speculated that Rodrieguez’s resignation comes as a way to avoid facing public backlash for the report’s findings. A later city council meeting has clarified that there is currently no plan to take further action against the report, though the reason given was that city council needed more time to assess the entirety of the report. Concerned citizens believe that such consideration is not needed, given that the report’s central conclusion is what’s being contested. 

In the meantime, Homer Delgado, the city’s assistant chief of police, will serve as interim police chief. Uvalde’s mayor, Cody Smith, has announced that they have already begun searching for a full-time replacement for Rodreiguez. As well, he has expressed his gratitude towards Rodreiguez for his years of service to the city. For now, it remains to be seen whether or not the city will take further action regarding the independent investigation’s report, despite the frustrations of its citizens.