City of Uvalde issues statement in response to U.S. Department of Justice Critical Incident Report

Press Release from the City of Uvalde

Thursday, Jan 25th, 2023

UVALDE, TEXAS – The City of Uvalde released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Critical Incident Review of the May 24, 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting:

“We have reviewed the U.S. Department of Justice’s Critical Incident Review of law enforcement’s response to the May 24, 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Prior to receiving the report, the Uvalde Police Department had taken substantial and proactive steps that address a number of recommendations in the report.

“Specifically, UPD has enhanced police officers’ capabilities by obtaining new equipment, including:

Rifle-rated shields;
Rifle-rated ballistic helmets;
Rifle armor plates;
New communications consoles;
Telecommunications upgrades;
New handheld radios;
New patrol vehicles;
Advanced door breaching tools;
Upgraded security system for the department;
New hammer spike equipment for safely breaking glass; and
A rapid SOS program for enhanced communication.

“UPD officers have also undertaken a combined 1,699 hours of new training since May 2022, including:

Instructor-rated Active Shooter Response training;
Instructor-rated Shield Use training;
Door Breaching training;
Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT);
Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR) training;
Solo Officer Rapid Deployment (SORD) training;
Defense Tactics training;
New Supervisor training;
Texas Association of Property and Evidence Inventory Technicians (TAPEIT) training;
Terrorism and Homeland Security training;
Incident Command Systems training;
Threat Assessment training;
FEMA Incident Command, Capabilities, Planning and Response training;
Crisis Intervention training;
Firearms Instructor training;
Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) Public Information Officer training;
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Active Attack and Emergency Response Communications and Leadership training;

“Additionally, to enhance coordination with other law enforcement entities, the Uvalde Police Department has added or enhanced more than a dozen training programs with local entities, including the Uvalde CISD Police Department, Uvalde County Sheriff’s Department, Uvalde County Constables, the Sabinal Police Department, and the Knippa Fire and EMS Departments. After releasing the report, the U.S. Department of Justice has committed to providing the Uvalde Police Department with additional training, and we look forward to receiving that training to ensure we can use every tool available to protect the safety of the Uvalde community.

“At the same time, the City has undertaken an independent investigation by an experienced former law enforcement detective who is conducting a thorough analysis of the Uvalde Police Department’s response to the Robb Elementary School shooting. We anticipate the results of that investigation will be completed in the coming weeks. As a City, we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure our law enforcement officials have the resources and training they need to keep the people of Uvalde safe.

“The City of Uvalde is continuing to work closely with the families of the victims in an effort to bring our community to a place of healing.”

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