Press Release from the Uvalde Police Department

10-09-25

  Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado has been invited to serve as a panelist at the 2025
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference, one of the
largest law enforcement gatherings in the world.

Chief Delgado will present during the workshop “Big Impact, Small Communities: Innovative
Strategies for Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies” on Sunday, October 19, 2025,
from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Mile High Ballroom 1EF at the Colorado Convention Center in
Denver, Colorado.

This session highlights how small and rural agencies, despite limited resources, can serve
as incubators for innovation in community engagement, policy reform, and operational
strategies. Chief Delgado will share lessons learned from the transformation of the Uvalde
Police Department through the Guardian Initiative, which focuses on modernizing policies,
strengthening accountability, and rebuilding community trust.

The panel will also feature leaders from across the country and experts from the U.S.
Department of Justice COPS Office. Attendees will gain practical strategies and insights on
innovation, internal culture change, and community-police partnerships in small and rural
environments.

“I am honored to represent Uvalde at this year’s IACP conference,” Chief Delgado said.
“Our story demonstrates that even small agencies can lead the way nationally in modern
policing, accountability, and community trust.”
For more information on the IACP conference, visit www.theiacpconference.org

Statement from Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado

05-23-25

Press Release from the City of Uvalde Police Department

Uvalde, TX – August 26, 2024 – The Uvalde Police Department is proud to announce that
Police Chief Homer Delgado has been selected to attend the FBI National Academy, one of the most
prestigious law enforcement leadership programs in the world. Chief Delgado’s participation in this
invitation-only program is a testament  to his dedication to the community and his commitment to
excellence in law enforcement.

The FBI National Academy, based in Quantico, Virginia, is renowned for its rigorous and advanced
training, with less than 1% of law enforcement officers nationwide being selected to attend. The
program, which spans ten weeks, will provide Chief Delgado with invaluable leadership skills,
professional development, and the opportunity to engage with other law enforcement leaders from
across the globe.

Chief Delgado’s attendance at the Academy aligns with the Uvalde Police Department’s ongoing
commitment to the Guardian Initiative, which aims to enhance community safety and strengthen the
effectiveness of the department. This initiative focuses on equipping the department’s leadership with
the highest levels of training and knowledge to better serve the Uvalde community.

The FBI National Academy covers all costs associated with the program, including enrollment, food,
and lodging, ensuring no financial burden on the City of Uvalde. Chief Delgado will temporarily leave
his family and community to be a resident at the Academy for two and a half months, where he will
immerse himself in this unparalleled educational experience.
Chief Delgado expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “I am deeply honored to be
selected for this prestigious program and look forward to bringing back the knowledge and skills
gained at the FBI National Academy to better serve our community in Uvalde.”

The Uvalde Police Department and the City of Uvalde are proud of Chief Delgado’s achievement and
look forward to the positive impact his training will have on the department and the community.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

 At tonight’s Tuesday, May 14th Uvalde City Council meeting, Uvalde Chief of Police Homer Delgado responded to questions from Councilman Hector Luevano regarding the border issues and undocumented migrant chases. 

The City Council was considering an agenda item about declaring a local state of disaster due to the immigration crisis. At previous City Council meetings, the City Council has routinely renewed the declaration.

 When asked how frequently the department chases stolen vehicles  or vehicles involved in human trafficking, Delgado said it occurs on a daily basis and the majority of situations involve migrants. He said, just yesterday the Uvalde PD assisted another law enforcement agency on a pursuit on Highway 55. He said his department put down spike strips but fortunately the fleeing vehicle turned off the highway before it hit them. 

The City Council voted to approve the Disaster Declaration at tonight’s meeting.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top picture: screen capture from City of Uvalde Livestream.

  Prior to the Uvalde City Council vote to adjourn Tuesday night’s April 22nd meeting, Mayor Pro-tem Everardo “Lalo” Zamora presented the City’s official statement on the independent JPPI Report former Mayor Don McLaughlin and the City Council commissioned.  In the statement, it both acknowledges that the City’s police officers did follow department policies but lacked the necessary training  and equipment to adequately protect the community. 

 While Brett Cross, Kimberly Rubio and other victim’s parents have demanded the firing of several City of Uvalde Police officers who responded to the May 24th Robb Elementary School Tragedy, according to the City’s statement, it appears the City Council is focused on supporting Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado’s plans to implement sweeping changes planned for the City’s police department rather than going back to address or reprimand individual police officers.

  Emilia Amy Marin, a survivor of the Robb School massacre, addressed the Council at the beginning of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. 

  “The families of the victims and survivors are tired, exhausted of playing the waiting game. We are exhausted. You as City officials need to be the change the whole world to see,” Marin said.

The city council convened into a closed door executive session  at 6:33 PM and then reconvened into open council meeting at 7:05 PM where at that time Zamora read the following statement:

 “We have a statement with the City Council commission the independent investigation at the request of the former mayor in the immediate aftermath of the Robb Elementary shooting. With the goal of having an objective outside assessment clarity to the events of the tragic day.

According to the report, Marin quoted the following: “‘We located the following 16 transmissions that were not relayed and/or acknowledged by the dispatchers that may have helped the officers.’ Have y’all read that?

  “The address of the crash was given but the name of the school was left out. The dispatcher did not repeat traffic, ‘Shots fired. Shots fired at Robb School,'” Marin said with strong emotion.

  “You know what needs to be done but you are not doing it.” Marin said. She concluded by saying, “Be the change and do something good.”

    Pastor Daniel Meyer also spoke, leveling harsh criticism towards the council.  “Our community is divided. It’s hurting.” 

    We acknowledge the report was presented in such a way that did not foster the city’s effort to help the community heal.”

   Based on the report’s finding as supported by other consultants who contributed to the report the conclusion supported the officers complied with UPD policies at the time of the shooting however the bottom line is that members of our beloved community were not adequately protected that day by Uvalde Police Department.

   The Uvalde Police department’s policies were outdated and the department lacked the proper training equipment to protect our community: that is changing.

  At the direction of Council and the city manager as part of Chief Delgado’s recently announced Guardian initiative, Uvalde Police Department is undertaking a detailed review of all department personnel policies, procedures, training and equipment to make sure the entire police force is operating at the top of its potential.

  The City will not commission another report. 

  We are focused on Chief Delgado rebuilding the policy, the police department in which he will evaluate all aspects of the Uvalde Police Department and make the necessary changes or improvements to ensure our community is safe, “Zamora said,

 Brett Cross responded lividly to the City’s statement on X formerly Twitter: “Uvalde contines to Fk us over.”

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

  Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado attended the Thursday, April 18th, Rotary Club of Uvalde weekly meeting and spoke on the sweeping changes he is planning on implementing as the City’s new head of the Uvalde Police Department. 

  “This is actually my first speaking arrangement as Chief of Police.” Degado said.

“I’ve been here for about 11 months. I was brought in to be the Assistant Police Chief to assist with some of the changes and improvements we were hoping to make at the department,” He continued saying, 

 “Given the opportunity, there is no place I’d rather be.”

 After the Robb event, I actually got here that night. I was Chief in Dilley Texas which is about 60 miles south.  I got here after the event had finished and I didn’t leave for about a month.”

“I brought in officers from all over the state which we found out that it has never happened in the history of the State of Texas; an operation that large from that many different agencies. We even had some from Oklahoma.  A lot of us left our emotions here with the people of Uvalde because we came to help but we had some much support from the community. People were visiting us, feeding us, and leaving us notes that we left with more emotionally then when we got here,” he said. 

“We had people going back to their agencies, improving their agencies,”

  Degado who resides in Hondo said he currently spends much of the week in Uvalde staying at the Uvalde EMS facility most of the week between the times he goes back home. 

  One of the changes for the Uvalde Police Department he has on his list is updating the policies of the department aligning them with the The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) best practices. He stated the current policies in place have not been updated since 2013. 

 He went on to say that while it has been difficult recruiting new officers to the department, he and the Uvalde Police Department are actively working with students attending SWTJC Law Enforcement Academy through a program where candidate students can be paid and then later hired in the department once they pass their exams.

  Delgado said that he has been given permission to proactively seek out and recruit qualified officers with skills and abilities that would benefit the department. 

  As Chief of Police, he said one of his goals is to place officers in roles they are best suited for within the department where they can excel. 

  He indicated that the changes he foresees will be so sweeping there may be existing officers that decide that it’s not for them.  He said in that case, we will celebrate the accomplishments each of these officers had made within the department and wish them the best going forward leaving the department. 

  He indicated one of his goals is to make the Uvalde Police Department an example for best practices within the state.

Press Release from the City of Uvalde

UVALDE, TX — At the direction of the City Council and City Manager, Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado today unveiled the “Guardian Initiative” – a comprehensive plan to overhaul the policies, practices, and procedures of the Uvalde Police Department (UPD) to enhance community trust and safety while modernizing the city’s police force.

The Guardian Initiative will focus on restoring trust and credibility, improving community relations, enhancing officer performance, implementing structural changes, and leveraging technology and innovation to transform UPD to better serve the Uvalde community.

To achieve this vision, Chief Delgado will hold a department-wide review of past actions – including one-on-one interviews with every single UPD officer – to ensure transparency and accountability at the outset of this initiative. Chief Delgado will also lead a comprehensive review and reform of current department policies to address any outstanding issues identified in local, state, and federal investigations.

As part of the Initiative, Chief Delgado also plans to implement rigorous new training standards and expand professional development programs to ensure the Uvalde police department is operating at the top of its potential. The Initiative will also expand neighborhood outreach and integration and emphasize UPD’s accountability to the citizens they protect.

Upon announcing the initiative, Chief Delgado provided the following statement:

“As officers, we are accountable to the people who depend on us, and we must demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism and responsiveness to carry out the core mission of every single officer – protecting the safety of the Uvalde community. The Guardian Initiative is key to the transformation of our department, and will require hard work, discipline, extensive training, and community engagement to enhance the department’s capabilities while ensuring integrity and transparency in our operations. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the entire Uvalde community as UPD undergoes these critical changes to keep Uvalde Safe.”

As part of Chief Delgado’s Guardian Initiative, UPD will:

• Initiate a department-wide meeting to ensure transparency and accountability regarding past actions reflect the standards of the department;
• Prioritize and substantially expand community outreach;
• Dedicate time and funding to new training and development programs;
• Assess, review, and reform policies and procedures to better reflect the needs of the community; and
• Ensure the department has the right equipment to address challenges of modern law enforcement.