Editorial: Black Eye

 Tactical Editorial

Can America’s police survive another black eye?

My apologies to Burt Lahr

The May 24, 2022, mass killing at the Uvalde Elementary School, Texas, gave law enforcement a massive elbow to the face and the nation a new heartache.  The police response to the calls for help was such an extensive fuck-up that investigation and interpretation will take weeks to reach conclusions.  It shouldn’t.  A google search of media reports and statements from the involved police shows how the Uvalde CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) Police Department screwed the pooch and let children die.

Despite years of training based on the premises and operational procedures derived from the Columbine High School shooting, the first responders didn’t go in.  The police stood waiting for orders from a commander who arrived later, without his radio, assuming someone else was in charge and who willingly dodged the responsibility. 

The mission statement of the Uvalde CISD Police Department is plainly stated on their website.  “The primary goal for the Uvalde CISD (Consolidated Independent School District ) Police Department is to maintain a safe and secure environment…”  In this, they failed.

The blame can be painted with a narrow brush.  Some teacher or school employee left an outside door open for their convenience.  The school and police now claim the door was later pulled shut but failed to lock.

The school safety officer was out of the building.  So far, nobody has explained what he was doing and why he was not on the job.

Here the paintbrush gets more expansive and the blame thicker.

School police officers arrived on the scene and despite more than two decades of collective wisdom, elected to wait outside.  Of all the trainers I have had over the years, when discussing active shooters, have always said, the first officer on the scene goes in moving towards the sound of gunfire.

Is it dangerous?  Yes.  Training and procedures can make it less dangerous, but it is the job each officer signed up for.  If you find you can’t do it, that’s great, just get out and go elsewhere.  There is no shame in understanding what you can and can’t do.

Transcription from open microphones report that at one point during the operation officers in and around the school were growing increasingly impatient, and in some cases had been loudly voicing their concerns. “If there’s kids in there, we need to go in there,” one officer could be heard saying. Another responded, “Whoever is in charge will determine that.”

In the meantime, Chief Arredondo arrived without his radio, “because he believed that carrying a radio would show him down as he entered the school” and assumed that someone, anyone else was in charge.

Yes, two officers were wounded and withdrew, fearful that their presence would cause more violence.  The killing continued anyway.  A locked steel door foiled the Uvalde CISD Police Department, who couldn’t find the proper key and apparently didn’t want to damage school property.  Despite having the responsibility of protecting the students in that school, they never considered an active shooter would lock himself in with his victims and devised a counter plan.

The fuck-up continued until a Border Patrol Response Team, who often provided additional manpower, decided enough and went in.  It was later quipped that they did not disregard the Chief’s orders, they just didn’t know he had just given the go-ahead at the time.  Draw your own conclusions about spin-doctoring.

Quisling was the Norwegian politician and Nazi collaborator who headed the government of Norway during Nazi occupation.  His name is now universally synonymous with traitor, and collaborator with his country’s enemies.

Will the name Arredondo be linked to coward? 

Will Uvalde be synonymous with fatal poor judgement?

I’ll let history decide that for itself. 

Is there a tactical lesson for citizens?

Yes, the police do not and have never had, a legal responsibility to protect the individual.  You, you poor asshole, are on your own.  If you have to be prepared to protect yourself and self-rescue.  So, what’s your plan?