On Thursday, Nov. 17, acting Uvalde Police Chief Mariano Pargas stepped down from his position, according to The New York Times. This resignation is the latest in a string of officials stepping down in the aftermath of the botched police response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The shooting, which left 19 children and two educators dead, has been rife with controversies surrounding how law enforcement acted on the scene, prompting an investigation into where law enforcement went wrong during the situation.

A report compiled by the Texas House of Representatives about the response from law enforcement faults the actions of multiple agencies, including the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s defiance of state-mandated safety protocols and inaction by officials on the scene. An article from the Associated Press characterizes the officers’ response to the situation as hectic, uncoordinated and lacking urgency. According to The Texas Tribune, these discoveries ultimately led many officials to abdicate from their positions, such as Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo and Uvalde CISD Superintendent Hal Harrell. This restitution is not enough for the victims’ families, and more action is being demanded to address the failure of law enforcement at Robb Elementary.

As citizens, we cannot continue to condone the response presented by law enforcement during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. While many officials involved in the tragedy have stepped down, the situation represents a more significant systematic problem that must be addressed. The report compiled by the Texas House of Representatives thoroughly outlines the areas of failure in law enforcement’s response. Now, action must be taken to shore up its shortcomings. We must urge the Texas Legislature to use the report provided to further enhance and improve the training standards of law enforcement and their protocols on how to respond to mass shootings. 

You can find the contact information for your local representative’s office at https://house.texas.gov/members/ and https://senate.texas.gov/members.php.