Border Patrol Officers Cleared in Response to Uvalde School Shooting
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a report on Thursday stating that Border Patrol officers did not violate any rules, regulations, or laws in their response to the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Following the shooting on May 24, 2022, where 19 students and two teachers lost their lives, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducted a review. This report is the third this year highlighting failures related to the Uvalde massacre.
Law enforcement took over 77 minutes to confront the shooter, who barricaded himself in two classrooms. The gunman was reportedly killed by a group led by a Border Patrol tactical team.
According to a report from the Texas House of Representatives, 376 law enforcement personnel responded to the scene, with 188 of them being Border Patrol officers. The CBP had the largest presence in the immediate aftermath.
Despite the delays, none of the CBP personnel who responded have faced disciplinary action, according to the report.
An investigation by the CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility involved reviewing thousands of hours of video footage and conducting over 200 interviews.
The report outlined three key issues encountered by Border Patrol officers during the incident:
- Legal authorities: The report highlighted a lack of clarity on legal authority during active shooter situations for CBP officers.
- Command and control: Lack of direction and a formal command center resulted in delays and a failure to adhere to mass-casualty protocols.
- Active shooter training: Existing CBP training was found to be inadequate for responding to school shootings.
The report recommends policy changes to clarify legal authority and improve training for future incidents. CBP has already taken steps to address these recommendations, including updating training protocols and notifying personnel of their legal authorities.
CBP Senior Official stated, “The loss of innocent lives and the enduring emotional scars… are immeasurable. We are committed to working with our partners to ensure our officers have the necessary training and support to respond effectively in critical incidents.”
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