The meeting to determine his future with the district has been postponed twice.
UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo will find out his fate with the school district Wednesday, three months after he led a botched law enforcement response to a shooting at Robb Elementary.
But the embattled Arredondo is not in attendance, nor is his attorney. Instead, they submitted a 17-page statement calling for him to be reinstated with back pay. He has been on unpaid leave since July 22.
“Any allegation of lack of leadership is wholly misplaced,” the statement asserts, arguing that Arredondo’s actions at the school on May 24 potentially saved lives or further injury.
It also alleges Arredondo was put on unpaid leave “without any advanced notice” in July, and that the district “imposed last-minute procedural hurdles” ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, violating his First Amendment rights.
“The district has successfully gagged Chief Arredondo to the point that he cannot participate,” the statement concludes.
The district has faced pressure to fire the police chief after Texas DPS revealed he was the incident commander on May 24.
The meeting has been postponed twice. The school district sent out a notice last week stating that they would discuss his termination Wednesday.
The meeting has been postponed in the past because the district can’t end Arredondo’s contract without giving their reasons why.
Last month, Superintendent Hal Harrell recommended that Arredondo be fired.
Many community members and victim’s families have called for the same. During Wednesday’s meeting, one member of the audience said the least the district can do is to conduct its meetings in open forum.
“For him to not be here and face the consequences of his own actions? Exactly,” the speaker said referring to Arredondo.
Another speaker added, “You are not going to sweep this under the rug.”
Amerie Jo Garza’s father said that he wished his daughter was there so she could speak for herself, while also thanking the community for their support.
“Thank you everyone for being here for us. It means a lot,” he said. “We don’t know what to do. We want to fight for our children.”
The full statement from Arredondo’s legal representation can be read below.
Arredondo has testified to the Texas House Committee that he believed the shooter was a barricaded subject instead of an active shooter.
It took law enforcement more than an hour to confront the shooter.
And while Arredondo was listed in the district’s active shooter plan as the incident commander, the House Committee report showed law enforcement lacked clear leadership and communication.
The report criticizing Arredondo for wasting time trying to find a key to the classroom the shooter was in.
He also didn’t take his radio with him.
The meeting is set to happen at 5:30p.m. and will be open to the public.
It will also be available to stream.
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