The mother of a girl who was murdered during the Uvalde, Texas mass school shooting criticized Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez for abruptly resigning from his position, just days after an independent investigator cleared the town's police officers of wrongdoing in a move that sparked outrage.
"He would rather resign than fire his friends," Veronica Mata, who lost her 10-year-old daughter in the shooting, told ABC News. "It was an easy way out."
Rodriguez announced his resignation on Tuesday, adding that it would not be effective until April 9.
"I want to express my deepest appreciation to all of my colleagues and team members for their unwavering support, professionalism, and dedication to our shared mission of serving and protecting the community," Rodriguez wrote in his resignation letter, according to the Uvalde Leader News.
"It has been a privilege to work alongside such talented and committed individuals, and I will genuinely miss our collaborations and camaraderie."
Uvalde's police department was subject to national scrutiny following the May 2022 massacre, which left 19 students and two teachers dead inside Robb Elementary School. The responding officers waited outside the school for an hour and 14 minutes during the rampage before finally entering the classroom in which the shooter was holed up and killing him.
While the police department was subject to criticism from the Texas House of Representatives, the city's outside investigator concluded that the officers acted in "good faith."
Rodriguez was on vacation during the fatal shooting and left Lt. Mariano Pargas in charge of the town's police force. His sudden resignation surprised many in the community, including his successor Homer Delgado.
"I was not forced, asked or pressured by anyone in the city or the community to make the decision that I made," Rodriguez told the Leader-News. "This decision was best for me and my family."
