'The documents are jarring': NYT reporter's research on Uvalde shooter's training materials contradicts police response
New York Times National Correspondent Mike Baker has shared a number of disturbing excerpts from Uvalde shooter, Salvador Ramos' training materials that appear to contradict the reports detailing the days leading up to the mass shooting and the aftermath that followed.
On Friday, May 27, Baker took to Twitter with a series of posts that included details from his research on Ramos' materials. Based on Baker's findings, the materials appear to contradict the police department's actions that day. “I have spent the past few days researching the training of Uvalde officers, including the tactics they were expected to use to halt school shooters,” Baker wrote. “The documents are jarring. Here’s a thread of our findings so far.”
Per Baker's report, Ramos spent days attempting to better understand Uvalde Police tactics so he would know how officers would respond in the wake of a school shooting.
\u201cIn the past two years, the Uvalde school district has hosted at least two active-shooter training days. One of them was just two months ago. \n\nThe trainings included both classroom teachings and role-playing scenarios inside school hallways (below).\n\nhttps://t.co/vE11bemXYg\n\n2/9\u201d— Mike Baker (@Mike Baker) 1653700549
\u201cBut how should officers confront the gunman? With a tactical team? The training says that's probably not feasible, because the urgency is so high. \n\nA SINGLE OFFICER, the training says, may need to confront the suspect on their own. \n\n4/9\u201d— Mike Baker (@Mike Baker) 1653700549
\u201cThe training expectations are obviously in stark contrast to what we are seeing in Uvalde. Police officials have said that officers were reluctant to engage the gunman because \u201cthey could\u2019ve been shot.\u201d\n\nhttps://t.co/wL8eqpqkiw\n\n6/9\u201d— Mike Baker (@Mike Baker) 1653700549
\u201cIt\u2019s clear that officers did not follow that scenario this week. 19 officers staged outside the classroom. 78 minutes elapsed before they entered. Children repeatedly called 911 from inside. \n\n\u201cIt was the wrong decision,\u201d top officer says.\n\nhttps://t.co/08outQNCyr\n\n8/9\u201d— Mike Baker (@Mike Baker) 1653700549
\u201cWe are continuing to scrutinize the Uvalde response. Meanwhile, here\u2019s a look at nationwide training for active shooters. \n\n\u201cIf you know children are being murdered, why do you wait? Get in there.\u201d\n\nhttps://t.co/UV5I33bFhi\n\n9/9\u201d— Mike Baker (@Mike Baker) 1653700549
Baker wrapped up his series of tweets saying, “We are continuing to scrutinize the Uvalde response. Meanwhile, here’s a look at nationwide training for active shooters.”
He also concluded with a disturbing quote from the report: “If you know children are being murdered, why do you wait? Get in there.”
The latest report comes as the Uvalde Police Department faces deep scrutiny for its response. As the days progress and new details come to light, more questions and concerns are circulating.
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