The head of the state’s top law enforcement agency is being asked to resign after one of his troopers under investigation for her response to the May 24 shooting was later hired by the Uvalde CISD.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez and the families of the Robb Elementary School victims said DPS Director Steven McCraw should resign because then-trooper Crimson Elizondo was among the first responders who “failed” to do their jobs.
Elizondo, Uvalde CISD and DPS faced mounting scrutiny on Thursday after CNN and ABC News reported that Elizondo was hired for the district’s police force. Some parents recognized her as being one of the first DPS troopers to arrive at the scene of the massacre.
Body cameras showed her in her trooper uniform and with a gun, though she didn’t retrieve a long rifle or tactical gear. She mainly remained outside the building, videos show, but briefly went to the hallway that led to the classrooms where the gunman was holed up. Over the span of 77 minutes, he killed 19 students and two teachers.
Elizondo was later captured on body camera footage saying, “If my son had been in there, I would not have been outside. I promise you that,” CNN reported.
The district announced Thursday that they < a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/10/06/uvalde-school-district-administrators-a-no-show-as-angry-parents-protest-outside-ucisd-building/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terminated Elizondo , as her comments “were not consistent with the district’s expectations.”
The district added that they would investigate current officers and “continue to make personnel decisions based on verifiable information.”
Elizondo was, however, one of seven troopers under investigation by DPS, according to Gutierrez and CNN. She left the agency in the summer and was then hired by UCISD.
McCraw previously told CNN that he would resign if any of his troopers had “any culpability” in the delayed response. He also told USA Today that he wishes his force would have done more to help.
In a news release, Gutierrez requested that Gov. Greg Abbott call for McCraw’s resignation.
Gutierrez released the following statement:
“DPS Director Steve McCraw said he would be the ‘first to resign…if there is any culpability in the Department of Public Safety. Period.’ It’s time for Governor Abbott to call for McCraw’s resignation, and finally show an ounce of leadership and empathy for Uvalde families.
“A DPS trooper was on scene within two minutes of the shooter and failed to follow training, protocol, and the duty they were sworn to. People’s children died because DPS officials failed to do their job. This isn’t just the failure of one law enforcement officer, it is the failure of the Texas government and the buck stops with Governor Greg Abbott.
“DPS and whoever allowed this officer to be put on the payroll and stationed in our schools just slapped this community in the face. There is a callous disregard within Abbott’s government for the families of the victims, the students who survived, and for an entire community still in mourning.
“If DPS had any intention of holding anyone accountable, officers under linvestigation would not be able to resign in disgrace and quickly find new work in law enforcement – particularly in the very community they failed. But we don’t need an DPS investigation to know this: 91 DPS troopers idled at Robb Elementary while 19 children and two teachers were killed and others lay injured and scared. And Abbott and McCraw have done nothing to prevent the next massacre. Uvalde families are done with excuses.”
Some of the parents of the victims spoke out on Twitter on Wednesday night, also calling for McCraw’s resignation and saying he’s “no leader.”
“McCraw WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR YOUR RESIGNATION!!!” Angel Garza, the father of Amerie, Tweeted.
Kimberly Rubio, the mother of Alexandria “Lexi,” Tweeted, “My child was SCARED! She was in danger! Those babies and 2 teachers were in there! McCraw RESIGN NOW!”
McCraw previously placed the blame on then-UCISD police Chief Pete Arredondo, who was the on-site commander.
At a special Texas Senate committee hearing in June, McCraw called the district police response an “abject failure” as officers with rifles waited outside for more than an hour to approach the gunman.
McCraw WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR YOUR RESIGNATION!!! YOURE NO LEADER IN ANYONE’S EYES!!!!!!
It wasnt your baby, right? Thats why you didnt go in “Officer Elizondo” ? She was there WITHIN MINUTES? But her child wasnt in there so it didnt matter. MY child WAS IN THERE! My child was SCARED! She was in danger! Those babies and 2 teachers were in there! McCraw RESIGN NOW!
What mother would leave another mothers babies in those rooms to die! If this isn’t proof enough, then what the hell is??????? This is proof that @Uvalde_CISD does not care about our children. How can she resign from DPS during an investigation and get hired to work @Uvalde_CISD https://t.co/52Gb2jrq7w
“… If my son had been in there, I would not have been outside, I promise you that.” pic.twitter.com/wMFOf4n3e3
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