'Call employers': Uvalde locals ask for vetting of Assistant Chief of Police candidates

UVALDE, TEXAS — Emotions ran high in Tuesday night’s Uvalde city council meeting as the council once again is under scrutiny as citizens continue to ask for accountability. Specifically, the Uvalde Police department, which answer to the City Manager.

In the near hour and a half of public comment we heard promises to keep fighting for accountability.

The Uvalde city council said the outside investigation into the Uvalde police department is ongoing and could take 60-90 days to complete.

As that continues the council looked Tuesday night at creating an Assistant Chief of Police position for the Uvalde Police Department.

Mayor Don McLaughlin said he wants the person chosen to be from a department outside of Uvalde's. It was also noted that the position has been budgeted for.

The day of the mass shooting Uvalde’s Police Chief was out of town and had appointed Lt. Mariano Pargas to be the acting chief.

Lt. Pargas has since been placed on administrative leave after the controversial response to the mass shooting shocked the nation. Citizens are begging the council to ensure whoever is hired to be the Assistant Chief of Police is properly vetted.

“You have to really check the background I mean actually call employers, past employers and I’m not just talking about the first one who comes across. You’ve got to go 10, 15, 20 years back,” Rosenberg Riza, an Uvalde resident, said.

The council also spoke about creating a Robb Elementary school memorial committee Councilman Chip King said he has heard from several families it may be time to start discussing the city’s memorial.

“When we start talking about memorials, we might start looking at alternate places for something like that but we need input and to start the discussions maybe city staff? I’ll work with you,” King said.

One speaker, Michelle Prouty, said she is submitting formal complaints against several officers who responded to the mass shooting.

Councilman Hector Luevano said he promises one thing.

People will be held accountable for what happened on May 24th when a gunman killed 21 people at the elementary school, which includes 19 children.