Enhancing professional development, accountability and transparency are among the goals of the Uvalde, Tex., Police Department’s Guardian Initiative. “There’s going to be a complete culture change here at the City of Uvalde Police Department,” said Homer Delgado, who was appointed in April to serve as police chief, reports KENS5 in San Antonio. Delgado has been working with regional, state and federal partners on implementing policy changes. Changes in leadership emerged from the massacre at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. Nearly 400 law enforcement officers responded to the shooting, taking over an hour to take down the shooter, which fueled public outrage and calls for accountability. Delgado has confidence in the Guardian Initiative’s potential for transforming the department. He’s sought out public input on what could be changed, hearing from family members who lost loved ones at the Robb shooting.
“We plan on rebuilding trust with the community, advancing education among the entire staff of the police department and providing a more professional police service to the Uvalde community,” Delgado said. The Texas Police Chiefs Association and the ALERRT Center have been coordinating with the Uvalde police in developing a comprehensive plan that revamps the department’s Active Shooter Violent Response Strategies Policy. Assistant Chief Mike Davis said it’s a first-of-its kind policy that could end up being replicated at law enforcement agencies nationwide. “We are the first agency to implement that policy in the nation,” Davis said. “We’ve conducted training with our partners, with all the mutual aid agencies. We’re just about complete with all of our active level 1 training. If you don’t train together, if you don’t even have any communication prior to and you’re thrown into a chaotic situation you’re going to see breakdown.”