Courtney Friedman: (00:00)
Uvalde District Three City Councilman Pete Arrendondo is stepping down from his seat.
Leigh Waldman: (00:05)
Decision made solely by Arrendondo comes more than five weeks after he was sworn in. Arrendondo has been absent from every Uvalde city council meeting since.
Courtney Friedman: (00:14)
The night team’s Camella [Watas 00:00:16] spoke with members of the Uvalde community about what this announcement means to them.
Speaker 4: (00:21)
This will allow people to begin to heal.
Camella Watas: (00:23)
Making headlines throughout the nation today. District Three Councilman Pete Arrendondo announcing his plan to step down from his seat. In a letter given to the Uvalde mayor and city secretary, Arrendondo wrote the move is to “minimize further distractions.” A Uvalde ommunity member who wanted to remain anonymous says Arrendondo staying in that position was dividing the community.
Speaker 4: (00:49)
It’s basically the sacrificial lamb, I think in this situation. And I think it’s probably best that he hasn’t come forward to those meetings because they have been very volatile.
Camella Watas: (01:00)
Arrendondo has been a key topic in the case of the Uvalde school massacre that happened back on May 24th. Since then law enforcement has come under fire for not taking quick enough action during the shooting. Arrendondo under the microscope as the Uvalde consolidated independent school district police chief. It was under Arrendondo’s command that police waited more than an hour to enter the school where 19 students and two teachers were shot and killed by an 18-year old gunman.
Speaker 5: (01:34)
It was a wrong decision period. There was no excuse for that.
Leigh Waldman: (01:38)
Kim Hammond, an outspoken member of the Uvalde community, says this resignation was the right move.
Kim Hammond: (01:45)
He’s still not admitting that he was the the incident commander. Come on. You’re the third on scene. It’s your jurisdiction. And this is our district. And it was just the right thing to do at this time for these families, for this community. Let us heal. His family needs to heal.
Camella Watas: (02:03)
The woman in maroon agrees saying Arrendondo is a community member first and stepping down best serves the city.
Speaker 4: (02:11)
I think that shows his heart for the community. Whatever did or didn’t happen that day, that his heart for this community is that he wants to do right by his neighbors and friends.
Camella Watas: (02:23)
And city officials also agree this is a step in the right direction. At this time, it’s unclear who will fill that district three vacancy, but the city charter outlines a plan going forward. Arrendondo remains the Uvalde CISD police chief on administrative leave. Camella Watas, case at 12 news.