The US Department of Justice said Sunday it would review law enforcement’s response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, at the reques...
The US Department of Justice said Sunday it would review law enforcement’s response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, at the request of its mayor, Don McLaughlin.
“The purpose of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare. and respond to active shooter events,” the Justice Department said in a statement. .
Uvalde law enforcement faced heavy criticism from parents and community leaders when it became clear they had not acted quickly to stop a gun-toting teenager murdering 21 people , including 19 children.
Although officers from the Uvalde Local Police, County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Border Patrol arrived at Robb Elementary School shortly after a gunman arrived with intent to murder students and teachers, they were order so as not to storm the classrooms.
The Justice Department said that after its review, it will issue a report with its findings.
Such reviews have been conducted in the past as part of the department’s Collaborative Reform initiative, which is designed to help police departments review and modify their operations and improve their relationships with local communities.
The program was recently revamped to increase the training and other services the department provided to local law enforcement seeking to address policing issues, such as bias, excessive use of force and shootings involving officers.
In general, reviews conducted under this initiative are not criminal investigations but a response to a request for assistance from local governments to the Department of Justice.
“This is a voluntary opportunity for an agency that knows it needs to make change and wants to make change, to do just that,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in March when he announced the revisions. of the program that were intended. to make it more collaborative with the local police.
Other mass shootings the Justice Department has examined in its review of law enforcement responses include the 2015 domestic terror attack in San Bernardino, Calif., and the 2016 nightclub attack. Pulse in Orlando, Florida – with an eye toward understanding how officers could have been better prepared and reacted to attacks.
In general, these reviews aim to provide targeted technical assistance on topics such as officer safety and well-being, gun violence reduction, and community engagement.
And they help law enforcement deal with the aftermath of high-profile disasters, such as mass shootings, analyze how they were handled, and make recommendations for change.
“As with previous Justice Department after-action reviews of mass shootings and other critical incidents, this assessment will be fair, transparent and independent,” the Justice Department said in a statement.
A criminal investigation into Uvalde’s law enforcement response would not be opened unless evidence emerges that the officers involved violated the law.
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