The Justice Department announced details of the review it will conduct of last month’s school massacre in Uvalde, Tx., that left 19 fourth-graders and two teachers dead. The review is being conducted by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), which provides grant money and advice to U.S. law enforcement agencies. It will offer “an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses, identify lessons learned and best practices … and provide a roadmap for community safety,” DOJ said, reports the Washington Post.
The assessment will examine policies, training, communications and tactics, as well as post-incident response. The COPS office review is not a criminal investigation but an after-action report to recommend improvements to police work for future mass shootings. “Nothing can undo the pain that has been inflicted on the loved ones of the victims, the survivors and the entire community of Uvalde,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “But the Justice Department can and will use its expertise and independence to assess what happened and provide guidance moving forward.” Among those preparing the review will be Sheriff John Mina of Orange County, Fl., and FBI unit chief, Albert Guarnieri.