The acting police chief on the day of the shooting atRobb Elementary Schoolin Uvalde, Texas has been placed on administrative leave amid review of law enforcement’s response to the tragedy.
The Uvalde Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
One of the revelations made in the report was that the police response disregarded its own active shooting training.
“They failed to prioritize saving the lives of innocent victims over their own safety,” the document said.
Pargas' suspension comes nearly a month after it was announced that Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo, whose response that day has also been criticized, wasplaced on administrative leave.
Lt. Mariano Pargas.Facebook
Arredondo, who was one of the first to respond to the scene that day, according toThe New York Times, told theTribunein June that he did not consider himself to be the commanding officer on the scene that day.
TheTribunereported that despite Arredondo’s claim, an active shooter plan that he co-wrote explained that the chief would “become the person in control of the efforts of all law enforcement and first responders that arrive at the scene” in the event of such an emergency.
Sunday’s report also explained that though there were 376 law enforcement officers at the school they lacked sufficient “urgency” to confront the gunman, per the report.It also said the response lacked proper leadership and basic communications.
Texas state troopers outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty
“We agree with the Committee’s review of the incident, there was failure of command,” McLaughlin said, according to theTribune. “However, we have further questions as to who was responsible for taking command as each agency there had senior level commanders on site.”
The document said there was “an overall lackadaisical approach” from law enforcement at the scene.
source: people.com
