Looking back on the horrifying incident – and what we may have learned from it.
(Originally posted in Front Page Mag.)
It still frustrates me to see what unfolded in Uvalde, Texas last year at Robb Elementary.
On May 24th, 2022, a lone gunman entered the school, killing 19 students and two teachers while injuring 17 others. It’s considered the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
But the thing that many are still looking at with the incident is the pure incompetency of the higher-ups in charge of the police. I continue to see reports where as many as 375 (!) police officers were standing outside, just waiting to be given the go-ahead. In fact, a couple even tried to go in at their own accord, only to be stopped by their peers because…they were told not to go in.
I can’t imagine. I can’t imagine whatsoever what kind of frustration these officers went through. Powerless to stop a gunman laying waste to innocent people inside a school because the person in charge couldn’t figure out what to do. It’s unbelievable.
Granted, some of those higher-ups are no longer in charge (thankfully), and Uvalde is doing everything they can to rebuild. But the questions remain – and, unfortunately, the distrust with some of the citizens in their own police force.
And it shouldn’t be like this. It should never be like this. The police are there to protect and serve, period. Not to wait around and have someone tell them to protect and to serve. They should just be doing it. And because of that lack in leadership that day, the ones still remaining on the Uvalde police force are attempting to pick up the pieces, trying to mend fences with people that are just as angry and frustrated as they are.
This is going to leave a mark in history. And not the good kind. But let it serve as a message as well – bad leadership will not be tolerated. It can’t be. It’s bad leadership that got all those people killed when those officers could have clearly done something.
And that’s a positive to take away from all this – what other police officers have learned. Since what took place in Uvalde, I’ve been seeing police response times in other states jump forward incredibly. They don’t hesitate in the least to enter buildings with their lives on the line, keeping other people safe while hunting down the suspect. They’re doing their job – and remarkably well, might I add.
This is something that a lot of people still have yet to heal from – especially when you consider how many other “active shooter” events have taken place. Just when we think we’re on a path to healing, someone with a semi-automatic rifle knocks us off course again. All we can do is keep pushing to make ourselves better.
So, with that, to the people of Uvalde, I feel you. I absolutely do. But please don’t take it out on the officers that remain within your city. I’m sure a number of them are still as angry as you are that they couldn’t do everything within their power to stop that madman. I believe they’re on the path to good leadership again, so please bear with them. They’re trying, I know they are.
And to you other police officers risking life and limb for us out there (amidst governments trying to strip you of your budgets and naysayers who still think “defund the police” is the best answer) – thank you as well. You’re doing everything to keep our city streets safe from harm, and you’re giving your all. You’re appreciated by more than you might think, especially me. I salute all of you.
Maybe one day we’ll be at the point where police officers are appreciated again and able to do their job without bad leadership or poor budgeting decisions getting in the way. That’s certainly where they need to be. For now, all I can say is keep the good fight going, and hopefully we can prevent incidents like what took place in Uvalde from happening ever again.
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue.
