The superintendent of the Texas school district where 19 students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting last month put Pete Arredondo, the district's police chief, on administrative leave, USA Today reports. Superintendent Hal Harrell of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District said district officials intended to "wait until the investigation was complete before making personnel decisions.” “Today, I am still without details of the investigations being conducted by various agencies," he added. "Because of the lack of clarity that remains and the unknown timing of when I will receive the results of the investigations, I have made the decision to place Chief Arredondo on administrative leave."
Lt. Mike Hernandez will "assume the duties" of school police chief. Arredondo did not attend Tuesday night's City Council meeting or a previous emergency session held shortly after the shooting. The council voted unanimously to decline Arredondo request for a leave of absence. If he misses the next two meetings, the council can remove him for abandoning his office. Several Uvalde residents attended the meeting to oppose Arredondo's leave of absence request. "We heard our citizens tonight, loud and clear," Mayor Don McLaughlin said. "If he misses his three meetings, I'm sure Pete will go. ... I'll vote yes (to remove him)."