Uvalde police chief resigns, city names interim chief of police

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a letter to the Uvalde city manager on Tuesday, Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez submitted his resignation to "embark on a new chapter."

Rodriguez worked with the department for the past 26 years, writing "it was a privilege to serve the City of Uvalde."

The city released the following statement to KXAN:

“The City of Uvalde is grateful to Chief Rodriguez for his 26 years of service to our community and we wish him the best as he pursues new career opportunities. Assistant Chief of Police Homer Delgado will be named Interim Chief of Police, as the City Manager and I undertake the search for a full-time replacement in consultation with the City Council. Nothing is more important than the safety of our community, and we look forward to working together to identify the best candidate to serve the people of Uvalde."

Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez | Courtesy City of Uvalde website

"While I'm excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, I will always cherish the memories and experiences shared with the City of Uvalde and its residents. I am confident that the police department will continue to thrive under new leadership, and I wish nothing but the best for the organization and its members in the future," Rodriguez said in the letter.

Rodriguez has led the police department since 2018. He was on a scheduled vacation during the Robb Elementary mass shooting-- the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history-- on May 24, 2022. The acting police chief at the time of the shooting, Lt. Mariano Pargas, stepped down from the department in November 2022, the Associated Press reported.

Uvalde shooting investigation

Last week, an independent investigation commissioned by the City of Uvalde left families demanding accountability for officers who waited over an hour to intervene as a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. The report recommended all Uvalde police officers be exonerated of wrongdoing in their response to the shooting.

The report stated in most of the officers' cases: “No evidence of serious acts of misconduct in direct violation of Uvalde Police Department’s policies was found in his behavior in response to the incident. I find that (this officer) acted in good faith.”

The investigation began months after the Department of Justice released its review of the shooting, in which it found “cascading failures” of the nearly 400 law enforcement officers who responded to the scene that day.