UVALDE, Texas – The Uvalde Police Department has implemented significant changes to its crisis response protocols in the wake of the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. The department’s proactive measures come ahead of the U.S. Department of Justice’s critical incident review, as reported in a news release on Thursday.
According to the same news release, the Uvalde PD has addressed a number of recommendations outlined in the DOJ report, such as tactics and equipment, leadership, incident command, coordination, post-incident response and investigation, public communication, trauma and support services, school safety and security, and pre-incident planning and preparation.
In efforts to enhance its capabilities, the Uvalde Police Department has purchased new equipment, including rifle-rated shields, ballistic helmets, armor plates, new communications consoles, handheld radios, patrol vehicles, advanced door breaching tools, and an upgraded security system. In addition, the department has introduced a new rapid SOS program for improved communication during crises.
Furthermore, Uvalde PD officers have undergone extensive training involving various scenarios related to active shooter response, shield use, door breaching, law enforcement rapid response, active attack integrated response, solo officer rapid deployment, defense tactics, and more. This includes training in threat assessment, firearms instruction, and crisis intervention.
The city also highlighted its collaboration with Uvalde-area law enforcement, fire, and EMS departments to improve coordination and responses in emergency situations. The Department of Justice is also set to provide additional training to the Uvalde Police Department.
The news release also mentioned that the city is eagerly awaiting the results of an independent investigation conducted by a former law enforcement detective regarding the department’s response to the school shooting.
The City of Uvalde emphasized its commitment to providing the necessary resources and training to ensure the safety of its residents, and expressed ongoing support for the families of the victims as they work towards healing.