(CNN)Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District is looking for an Interim Police Chief because Chief Pete Arredondo is on unpaid leave . According to local online newspaper Uvalde Hesperian, is awaiting a final hearing,said school board president Luis Fernandez.
Fernandez provided an update at his Rotary club meeting last week, the paper reported. The chairman also shared information about the safety and security measures in place for the new school year. "He had 16 applicants at the UCISD Police Department," Fernandez said, according to the
newspaper. An interview panel is reviewing candidates and evaluating background checks, he was told.
CNN did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation and comment from the school district and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Arredondo was given unpaid leave after his handling of the Robb Elementary School massacre in May, where 19 children and his two teachers were murdered, was highly criticized. I was. Authorities said Arredondo was the commander at the scene during the shooting, but the chief disputed this and did not believe he was responsible. , recommended that Arredondo be fired amid growing anger among local residents and families in the wake of the tragedy and calls for the chief's removal.
The Board of Education has postponed Arredondo's dismissal hearing twice on him due to a request from an attorney for due process rights. Most recently, the district said the board postponed the meeting due to "scheduling conflicts" that prevented it from holding a public hearing on August 4. No new hearing date was set at the time.
"At Robb Elementary School, law enforcement responders failed to adhere to active marksmanship training and failed to put saving the lives of innocent victims ahead of their own safety." said the report, adding: He waited over an hour for the wounded victims to call for help, and the attackers continued to sporadically fire their weapons, which may have cost the leadership his life.
Arredondo said he was "corresponding as a police officer" and said he did not consider himself to be responsible, stating that he was the chief police officer.