Uvalde school district places police Chief Pete Arredondo on administrative leave, superintendent announces

(CNN) Uvalde school district police chief Pedro "Pete" Arredondo was placed on leave Wednesday, according to a news release from Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Hal Harrell.

"Because of the lack of clarity that remains and the unknown timing of when I will receive the results of the investigations, I have made the decision to place Chief Arredondo on administrative leave effective on this date," Harrell wrote in the announcement to the media.

Lt. Mike Hernandez is assuming the duties of the UCISD Chief of Police, Harrell said.

The superintendent wrote that he had intended to wait for an investigation to be finished before making personnel decisions.

"Today, I am still without details of the investigations being conducted by various agencies," he wrote.

Arredondo testified Tuesday behind closed doors in Austin to a Texas House committee seeking answers to what happened May 24 when 21 people were gunned down at an elementary school, but has not spoken publicly about his decision-making on the day of the shooting.

The school district's announcement comes a day after the Uvalde City Council, of which Arredondo is a new member, voted to deny his request for a leave of absence.

Harrell is not alone in appearing to be frustrated by the lack of information from investigators.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin on Tuesday slammed the Texas Department of Public Security (DPS) for its lack of transparency and accused its director, Col. Steven McCraw, of intentionally minimizing his agency's mistakes in the weeks following the massacre at Robb Elementary School.

"Col. McCraw has continued to, whether you want to call it lie, leak, mislead or misstate, information in order to distance his own troopers and Rangers from the response. Every briefing he leaves out the number of his own officers and Rangers that were on-scene that day," McLaughlin told residents at a city council meeting Tuesday.

"Col. McCraw has an agenda and it is not to present a full report on what happened and give factual answers on what happened to this community," he added.

In addition, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat representing the County of Uvalde, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against DPS, arguing the agency violated the Texas Public Information Act when his request for information on the shooting was ignored.

"In the wake of the senseless tragedy, the people of Uvalde and Texas have demanded answers from their government. To date, they have been met with lies, misstatements, and shifts of blame," the lawsuit states.

The criticisms and lawsuit come shortly after McCraw testified before a Texas Senate committee that the response from law enforcement was an "abject failure" and violated commonly taught protocol to stop the shooter as quickly as possible.

The DPS director accused Arredondo, who McCraw and others have identified as the on-scene commander, of ordering police to wait in a nearby hallway for unnecessary equipment and keys to a door that was not even locked.

"Three minutes after the subject entered the West building, there was a sufficient number of armed officers wearing body armor to isolate, distract and neutralize the subject," McCraw said. "The only thing stopping the hallway of dedicated officers from entering rooms 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children."

adds further tension to a tragedy that has become a case study in bad policing and worse communication. Nearly a month has passed since an 18-year-old gunman killed The finger-pointingadds further tension to a tragedy that has become a case study in bad policing and worse communication. Nearly a month has passed since an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at the school. He remained inside the classrooms from 11:33 a.m. until 12:50 p.m. -- when police finally breached the door and killed him, according to a DPS timeline.

Yet authorities have repeatedly changed their account of key facts about what happened inside the rooms and what police did in response during those 77 minutes.

McLaughlin said that the repeated misstatements and blame-shifting from Texas authorities was dividing the community and frustrating grieving families

"What matters to Uvalde is that these brokenhearted families and this grieving community get a full investigation and an accurate report of what happened that day," he said. "The petty infighting, the clickbait headlines and the politically motivated scapegoating is not helping anyone."

CNN has reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the district attorney's office, the chair of the Texas House investigating committee and the San Antonio office of the FBI for further comment.

State senator's lawsuit challenges DPS secrecy

Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school The area around the Robb Elementary School signs has become a memorial dedicated to the victims of the May 24 mass shooting. Hide Caption 1 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Celia Correa Sauceda, right, hugs her friend Stacey Mazuca after they and other mariachi musicians from San Antonio performed during a memorial in Uvalde on Wednesday, June 1. Sauceda, who plays violin, is an elementary teacher in San Antonio. She said she was in Uvalde to be a voice. "We cannot forget what happened, and it needs to stop," Sauceda said. Hide Caption 2 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Mateo López sings during a mariachi performance at a Uvalde memorial on June 1. Hide Caption 3 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Pallbearers carry Amerie Jo Garza's casket into the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde on Tuesday, May 31. Hide Caption 4 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Jose Mata, brother of shooting victim Xavier Lopez, carries a wooden cross decorated with a baseball bat to place it at Xavier's memorial outside his home in Uvalde on May 31. Hide Caption 5 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school President Joe Biden looks back at the crowd gathered outside of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church after attending Mass in Uvalde on Sunday, May 29. People in the crowd shouted, "Do something!" And as Biden looked back at them he said, "We will." Hide Caption 6 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A cutout photograph of one of the victims is taken onto school grounds Saturday, May 28, in preparation for Biden's visit the next day. Hide Caption 7 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Mourners gather in the main plaza in Uvalde on May 28. Hide Caption 8 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A choir from The Light of the World Church sings songs in Uvalde on Friday, May 27, to support families who lost loved ones in the shooting. Hide Caption 9 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school The Light of the World Church offers prayers for the families impacted by the shooting. Hide Caption 10 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Vanessa Palacios, left, and Melissa García write the victims' names on their storefront, Cut Loose Hair Emporium, on May 27. Hide Caption 11 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, points to a map of the shooter's movements during a news conference on May 27. In all, 80 minutes passed between when officers were first called to the school at 11:30 a.m. to when a tactical team entered locked classrooms and killed the gunman at 12:50 p.m., McCraw said. Hide Caption 12 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school The friends and family of Maranda Mathis, one of the young victims of the school shooting, grieve her loss in front of a cross bearing her name on May 26. "These children should be remembered for all the right reasons," a family member said. Hide Caption 13 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Tyler Garcia raises up a sign that says "#UvaldeStrong" during a car wash and food sale that was raising money for the families of those who lost loved ones in the shooting. Hide Caption 14 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Congregants at St. Philip's Episcopal Church light candles in Uvalde to remember the shooting victims on May 26. Hide Caption 15 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Copies of the Uvalde Leader-News sit on stands at a market on May 26. Hide Caption 16 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Crosses bear the names of shooting victims on May 26. Hide Caption 17 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People in Uvalde light candles during a memorial for the shooting victims on May 25. Hide Caption 18 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A prayer vigil is held in Uvalde on May 25. Hide Caption 19 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school An officer with the Texas Highway Patrol prays with a community member before taking his flowers to the growing memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. Hide Caption 20 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school From left, Michael Cavasos, Brenda Perez and Eduardo Galindo are seen in the foreground as they wait in line to donate blood in Uvalde on May 25. Galindo, who lives in Uvalde, said: "When it hits you in your hometown, you wake up and say, 'Wow.' ... We have to be here and show support for these families right now." Approximately 200 people donated blood to South Texas Blood and Tissue, who would be delivering the units to surrounding area hospitals. Hide Caption 21 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People attend Mass at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde on May 25. Hide Caption 22 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Flowers are seen at the memorial in front of the school. Hide Caption 23 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Texas gubernatorial nominee Beto O'Rourke, bottom right, confronted Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials during a news conference about the shooting on May 25. "The time to stop the next shooting is right now and you are doing nothing," O'Rourke told Abbott. The two will face off in November's election. Hide Caption 24 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Law enforcement vehicles are lined up outside the school on May 25. Hide Caption 25 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People pray outside the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde on May 24. The civic center is where students were transported after the shooting. Hide Caption 26 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Kladys Castellón prays during a vigil that was held in Uvalde on May 24. Hide Caption 27 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Law enforcement officials work the scene after the shooting on May 24. Hide Caption 28 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People comfort each other outside the civic center in Uvalde. Hide Caption 29 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Students run to safety after law enforcement officers helped them escape from a window at the school. Hide Caption 30 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Law enforcement personnel run near the scene of the shooting on May 24. US Customs and Border Protection, which is the largest law enforcement agency in the area, assisted with the response. Hide Caption 31 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People react outside the Uvalde civic center on May 24. Hide Caption 32 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A Texas state trooper walks outside the school on May 24. Hide Caption 33 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A woman reacts outside of the civic center in Uvalde. Hide Caption 34 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A child gets on a school bus under the watch of law enforcement on May 24. Robb Elementary teaches second through fourth grades and had 535 students in the 2020-21 school year, according to state data. About 90% of students are Hispanic and about 81% are economically disadvantaged, the data shows. Hide Caption 35 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People react outside the civic center in Uvalde. This marks at least the 30th shooting at a K-12 school in 2022. Hide Caption 36 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Law enforcement officials and other first responders gather outside the school following the shooting. Hide Caption 37 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A woman cries and hugs a young girl while on the phone outside the civic center in Uvalde. Hide Caption 38 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Another child gets on a bus to leave the school. Hide Caption 39 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A woman cries as she leaves the civic center. Hide Caption 40 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Law enforcement officials stand outside the school following the shooting. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been assisting local police with the investigation. Hide Caption 41 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school People sit on the curb outside of the school as state troopers guard the area on May 24. Hide Caption 42 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school Police walk near the school following the shooting. Hide Caption 43 of 44 Photos: Mass shooting at Texas elementary school A woman and a child leave the Uvalde civic center on May 24. Hide Caption 44 of 44

In his lawsuit filed Wednesday, Gutierrez challenged the DPS's decisions to withhold information from the public, including police bodycam footage, 911 audio and ballistics reports.

"DPS has violated Chapter 552 of the Texas Government by failing to provide public documents that are presumed to be public within a reasonable time," the lawsuit states.

In a section titled "The Cover-Up," the lawsuit notes that DPS has used an exception to the law to keep records private.

"These government agencies have used the 'on going law enforcement exception' to the Texas open records law to disallow access to information that might shed light on the response to the school shooting," the lawsuit states.

Gutierrez is asking the Travis County District Court to rule that DPS immediately provide the documents in his records request.

District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee issued a statement two weeks ago stating the shooting was being investigated by the FBI and Texas Rangers and that "any release of records to that incident at this time would interfere with said ongoing investigation and would impede a thorough and complete investigation."

Still, Kelley Shannon, the executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, urged transparency in a statement Wednesday.

"It is important to note that the Texas Public Information Act does not require law enforcement investigators to withhold information from the public about a crime," Shannon said. "The law enforcement exception to release is discretionary. In fact, many police and prosecutors across Texas routinely release investigative information to the public when they feel the need to -- whether to help catch a wanted suspect, to seek more tips about a crime or to showcase the positive performance of police."

Mayor says he's frustrated by lack of transparency

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At the city council meeting, McLaughlin noted that officers from at least eight law enforcement agencies were in the hallway outside the classrooms on the day of the shooting. McLaughlin said he has no desire to pursue elected office again and is "not covering up for anybody," saying all responding agencies should be held accountable.

He said the leaking of certain bits of information over the past few weeks "continues to create chaos in our community and keeps the whole truth from coming out."

He particularly took aim at what he said was a false report that local police weren't cooperating with investigators , and he expressed his frustration with being left in the dark.

"I'm just as frustrated -- maybe not as frustrated as the families that have lost their loved ones -- but it pisses me off that I can't give you answers or can't get you answers," McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin said he was meant to receive a daily briefing from authorities since its onset but none has been provided.

"The gloves are off. As we know it, we will share it. We are not going to hold back anymore," he said.

McLaughlin has criticized the lack of transparency from investigators before, saying at a city council meeting on June 7 , "We had some missteps with the DPS releasing some facts or different things, but that wasn't the Rangers who were leading the investigation. I'm not blaming anybody," he said.

"We were told one thing one day, and the next day the narrative changed. You were told for a week that a teacher propped the door open with a rock, and at the end of the week that story was gone too . That's the missteps I'm talking about," he added.

The city council meeting also took issue with Arredondo's absence from the public eye.