Cop reinstated despite school-shooting failures.

Texas DPS reinstates officer who faced termination after Uvalde shooting

The Texas Department of Public Safety has reinstated the sole officer it initially planned to fire in the wake of the botched law enforcement response to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.

Texas Ranger Christopher Ryan Kindell, who was suspended in January 2023, has been restored to his position in Uvalde County as of Friday, according to documents obtained by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV.

Col. Steve McCraw reversed the preliminary decision following a review of the Texas Ranger criminal investigation into the shooting, an internal review of TDPS officers' actions, and the Uvalde County grand jury's examination of the law enforcement response.

"I have decided to alter my preliminary decision [...] the Uvalde grand jury reviewed all law enforcement officers who responded to the attack at Robb Elementary and no action was taken on officers employed by the Texas Department of Public Safety," McCraw wrote.

Uvalde County DA Christina Mitchell also requested Kindell's reinstatement, stating that the grand jury's review of all officers' actions resulted in no charges against any TDPS officers.

The grand jury investigation, which concluded in June, led to child endangerment/abandonment charges against former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo and former officer Adrian Gonzales.

DA Mitchell confirmed that her office's investigation reviewed the actions of all officers, particularly those who responded early on, and that no TDPS officers were charged.

Kindell, a 20-year veteran of the agency, was one of two TDPS employees facing termination. Sgt. Juan Maldonado retired prior to his firing, and Crimson Elizondo resigned.

Austin American-Statesman: https://t.co/UDPTxNsps0