The Uvalde, Texas school district suspended its entire police force Friday amid criticism for officers’ failure to respond during the massacre at Robb Elementary School in May.
Hours later, Uvalde school district Superintendent Hal Harrell announced he would be retiring, according to ABC News.
The school district requested that more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers be stationed on campuses in the tragedy-struck town and at extra-curricular activities, ABC News reported.
“We are confident that staff and student safety will not be compromised during this transition,” the district said Friday.
Police officers who responded to the shooting were slammed in the wake of the massacre for waiting more than an hour to storm the school, where 19 children and two teachers were slaughtered on May 24.
More from ABC News:
Lt. Miguel Hernandez, who was tasked with leading the department in the fallout from the shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers, and Ken Mueller, the UCISD’s director of student services, were placed on administrative leave.
Hernandez acknowledged in a law enforcement communication in August that he’d received formal notification from DPS that an officer applying to Uvalde’s school police force was under investigation for her response at Robb Elementary.
Mueller has elected to retire, according to the school district.
“Officers currently employed will fill other roles in the district,” the school district said. According to the district’s website, that includes four officers and one security guard.
Victims’ families, led by Brett Cross, guardian of 10-year-old victim Uziyah Garcia, had been holding a round-the-clock vigil outside the school district headquarters calling for change. The families are now commending Friday’s police department announcement.
“We’ve gotten a little bit of accountability,” an emotional Cross told ABC News. “So, it’s a win, and we don’t get very many of those.”
The school district’s move comes one day after the firing of Officer Crimson Elizondo, who was one of the first cops to arrive at the scene and allegedly botched rescue attempts.
