The head of police for the Uvalde school district steps down, having served in the role for more than a year.
Joshua Gutierrez, the head of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, will have his resignation put to a vote during a meeting on June 17th. If accepted, his last day would be on June 26th, as per the information given by the school's spokesperson, Anne Marie Espinoza. The specific reasons for his departure are yet to be known, with both Gutierrez and the school district being contacted by CNN yet to respond.
In a statement, Espinoza expressed gratitude towards Gutierrez for his efforts in improving the safety and well-being of the school's staff, students, and community since taking charge of the UCISD Police Department.
Gutierrez was appointed to replace Pete Arredondo, who was dismissed in August 2022 amid concerns about his actions during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in May 2022. 19 students and 2 teachers lost their lives during the incident, as law enforcement took over an hour to enter the classrooms where the gunman was located and end the attack. A Justice Department report revealed numerous missed opportunities to put a stop to the violence much earlier.
Arredondo was seen giving directions and receiving updates in police body-cameras, but he insisted that he wasn't the person in charge that day.
Gutierrez was unanimously chosen as the interim police chief in November 2022, before being named as the permanent head in March 2023.
“This is the first step we're taking to rebuild our school district police force,” Gary Patterson, the interim superintendent at the time, said when Gutierrez was announced as interim chief.
During his tenure as interim chief, Gutierrez placed an emphasis on recruiting competent officers, conducting collaborative training with local law forces, and interacting with students and the community.
“I am able to come here and help the community heal, help our community heal, and establish a base for our police department,” Gutierrez remarked in December 2022, quoted by KSAT.
The district has already begun its hunt for a new police chief, with the position being listed on their website. The chosen candidate will be expected to ensure the safety of all UCISD personnel and visitors, deliver classroom presentations, counsel students and parents, provide guidance to students through mentorship, and serve as a positive role model to promote healthy relationships between law enforcement and youth.
A minimum of 5 years of senior-level experience leading law enforcement operations is required for the position, as well as the ability to deal with potentially dangerous situations involving armed individuals.
“We are dedicated to finding a successor who will maintain the high standards of safety and security that our school community expects,” Espinoza affirmed.
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The school district will need to find a new police chief to continue ensuring the safety and security of the UCISD community, as Joshua Gutierrez, the current head of police, is set to leave after his resignation is accepted. Despite serving effectively in improving safety and well-being, the reasons behind Gutierrez's departure remain unknown at this time.
Source: edition.cnn.com
