Department of Justice Critical Incident Report Archives - Uvalde Hesperian

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

admin — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 18:55:57 +0000

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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SWTJC Art Professor Hosts Tour of Memorial Mural Project for U.S. Attorney General and Associate Attorney General in Uvalde

admin — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:40:23 +0000

Press Release by SWTJC

Uvalde, TX, January 23, 2024 – In a moving union of art and justice, Southwest Texas Junior College’s (SWTJC) Art Professor Abel Ortiz recently hosted a thought-provoking tour of the memorial mural project dedicated to the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School tragedy for U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta on January 17. PHOTOS

Professor Ortiz, the creative force behind this heartfelt initiative, led profound discussions with the DOJ officials amid the evocative murals that grace the walls of buildings throughout the Uvalde downtown area.

“It was an honor and a pleasure to tour the murals with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. They were truly touched by the portraits and asked substantive questions,” said Ortiz.

During the tour, Associate Attorney General Gupta and Attorney General Garland gained profound insights into the memorial project’s impact under Ortiz’s expert guidance.

This unique convergence of art and the pursuit of justice in the memorial mural project serves as a testament to the resilience of communities in the face of tragedy. SWTJC takes great pride in fostering opportunities that celebrate artistic talent and act as powerful tools for healing and remembrance. The college remains committed to providing opportunities for meaningful conversations and collaborations that bolster the strength of its communities.

“My hope is that the murals will provide a sense of peace and comfort for the families and a reminder that these tragedies should not happen in a civilized society,” Ortiz stated.

Department of Justice officials were in Uvalde to present a Critical Incident Review on the tragedy of May 24, 2022. Their itinerary included crucial meetings with affected families and engagements with the press, shedding light on the report’s findings.

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About Southwest Texas Junior College

Founded 76 years ago, Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) is a regional, “open door” institution serving an 11-county area that stretches from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border. For more information, please visit www.swtjc.edu.

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DOJ Report reignites criticism toward Commissioner Pargas: Robb Victims families demand County stop paying Pargas

admin — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:43:31 +0000

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian ; Photos by Robinson

Monday, January 22nd, 2023

Velma Lisa Duran, ths sister of IRobb Teacher Irma Garcoa spoke at the Uvale County ommissioners Court Meeting

Robb School victim’s family members packed the Uvalde County Commissioners Courtroom this morning along with several television news stations and news outlets with video cameras lined up near the back of the third floor courtroom at the Uvalde County Courthouse. Several family members quoted Commissioner Mariano Pargas’ earlier words to the families where he asked they wait until the investigation and the final report on the Robb School Tragedy is released.

Pargas, who was the focus for many who spoke out demanding the County stop paying him to serve as a County Commissioner, was absent from today’s proceedings. Jessie Rizo and other blasted other elected Uvalde County law enforcement officials for seeking re-election in the upcoming primary elections.

A video news report will be published soon by the Uvalde Hesperian.

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U.S. Department of Justice Merrick B. Garland “There was an epic lack of leadership”

admin — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:16:44 +0000

Veronica Mata speaks folloiwing the DOJ Report press conference outside of the Herby Ham Activity Center

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

The national media returned to Uvalde in numbers reminiscent of the days immediately following the May 24th, 2022 Robb School tragedy to cover the U.S. Department of Justice release of its Critical Incident Report on the law enforcement agencies response as well official communications and reports of the event.

Prior to the Official DOJ Press Conference, Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez held a press conference on the Uvalde Downtown Plaza at 10 AM.

Gutierrez took the opportunity to blast the Texas DPS actions at Robb Elementary School as well as level criticism against Texas DPS Chief Steve McCraw.

An official press conference was held inside the Weber Auditorium at the Herby Ham Activity Center at 11 AM on Thursday morning. The press conference was originally scheduled for 1:30 PM but officials changed the time to just an hour or two before 11 AM. Prior to the DOJ press conference where U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Secretary Merrick Garland spoke to a nearly full room of mostly reporters and also some citizens who attended the event. Following Garland’s remarks, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta addressed the press from the official podium. Gupta was followed by Director Hugh T. Clements, Jr. of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) who also spoke.

The Uvalde Hesperian did not receive official word about the press conference time or location until an hour before the start time which originally was scheduled for 1:30 PM A source informed the Uvalde Hesperian about 8:30 AM Friday morning a large number of media was seen gathered outside the Herby Ham Activity Center. When Hesperian called and spoke to the Center Director Amy Coleman and asked what was happening, she said, “I cannot tell you.”

Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez speaks on the Uvalde Plaza at 10 AM before the DOJ Press Conference

According to a Facebook comment by Uvalde City Councilman Chip King, the DOJ press conference was not open to the public. However, inside the Weber Auditorium, there were seats available for the public behind the seats reserved for the press.

In his opening remarks, Garland said, “Last night, I met with some of the survivors and the loved ones of the victims of the horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. I came here to tell them that the United States Department of Justice has finished its Critical Incident Review.

In undertaking this review at the request of the then-mayor, the Justice Department committed to using our expertise and independence to assess the law enforcement response to the shooting, and to provide guidance moving forward.

As I told families and survivors last night, the Department’s review concluded that a series of major failures — failures in leadership, in tactics, in communication, and in training and preparedness — were made by law enforcement leaders and other officials responding to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary.”

See official transcript of Attorney General Merrick Garland’s speech here.

He continued saying ” And I told the families gathered last night what I hope is clear among the hundreds of pages and thousands of details in this report: their loved ones deserved better.

The law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022 — and in the hours and days after — was a failure that should not have happened.”

National Media assemble before the DOJ Press Conference

Following the official DOJ Press Conference, another impromptu press conference occurred outside of the Herby Ham Activity Center under the covered driveway outside of the main entrance where several Robb victims family members spoke to the press expressing their anger and frustration about the failures of law enforcement officials on May 24th, 2024.

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City of Uvalde Statement on Release of US DOJ Review of Robb Elementary School Shooting Response

admin — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:19:34 +0000

Press Release by the City of Uvalde

UVALDE, TEXAS – The City of Uvalde released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice released its review of the law enforcement response to the May 24, 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting:

“Just days after the May 24, 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, former Mayor Don McLaughlin requested the Justice Department conduct a review to provide an independent and complete account of all law enforcement actions, lessons learned, and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events.

“The City has already implemented changes in leadership, new personnel, new training, and new equipment to enhance law enforcement’s ability to protect the safety of our community, and has enlisted an independent investigator to conduct a thorough, objective, and credible review of the City’s law enforcement response. We anticipate that independent investigation will be finished this month.

“At every level throughout the review process, the City of Uvalde cooperated and provided extensive information to the Justice Department to ensure a fulsome account of law enforcement’s response from the City’s perspective. At this time, we are reviewing the full Justice Department report and will provide additional comments on its findings, as appropriate, following our careful and thorough review process.”

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Roland Gutierrez responds to anticipated release of Department of Justice report on Uvalde Shooting

admin — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:11:07 +0000

P ress Release from Senator Roland Gutierrez

UVALDE, TEXAS – Roland Gutierrez will hold press availability THURSDAY at 10:00 AM CT ahead of the anticipated release of the Department of Justice’s new report that investigates the Texas Department of Public Safety’s failed response to the May 24th, 2022, Robb Elementary Shooting and the State of Texas’ cover up.

The Department of Justice will release a detailed, independent report on the law enforcement response to the May, 24, 2022 massacre and the failures of law enforcement on that day.

Uvalde State Senator Roland Gutierrez

Roland Gutierrez to Respond to US Department of Justice Report on Uvalde Shooting Failed Response

Thursday, January 18th, 2023; 10:00 AM CT

Uvalde Town Square, 106 W Roberts Ln, Uvalde, TX 78801

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