UVALDE, Texas – Homer Delgado has been appointed chief of the Uvalde Police Department, the city announced Thursday.
Delgado was hired by the City of Uvalde in April 2023 as assistant police chief. Since then, he has initiated several process and policy improvements, conducted comprehensive evaluations of current employees, policies, and department practices, and identified numerous areas for improvement and taken proactive steps to address them, the city said.
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Delgado has more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, including more than 20 years in supervisory and leadership roles, including tenure as Dilley police chief.
“Chief Delgado has repeatedly demonstrated the qualities necessary to lead UPD with integrity, as well as a clear vision for the future of the department. Throughout his nearly three-decade career, which includes a diverse array of experiences protecting Texas communities and spearheading community engagement initiatives, Chief Delgado has demonstrated his passion and dedication for enhancing public safety. We look forward to working closely with Chief Delgado to provide UPD with the support and resources needed to keep the Uvalde community safe,” the city said in a statement.
Following the shooting at Robb Elementary in May 2022, Delgado formed and led “Operation Coyote Overwatch,” which brought together over 500 law enforcement officers from across Texas to support the safety and security of the Uvalde community.
Delgado also received numerous high-level designations through state and federal law enforcement training programs.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the position of Chief of Police for the City of Uvalde,” Delgado said in a statement. “I am committed to fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and integrity within our police department. These values are not merely words on paper but guiding principles that will shape every decision and action we take. We owe it to the community we serve to hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct. I want to be clear: the Uvalde Police Department is on the brink of a complete transition. We will challenge every member of our department to rise to a new level of professionalism and accountability. Through rigorous training and mentorship, we will empower our officers to provide the highest quality of service to our community.”
Delgado will begin his new position on Saturday.
He succeeds Daniel Rodriguez, who resigned in March one week after an Austin-area investigator presented his Independent Expert Investigative Report into the Uvalde Police Department’s response to the Robb Elementary shooting.
Rodriguez had served as Uvalde police chief since 2018, but according to the Uvalde Leader-News, he was on a scheduled vacation out of state when the shooting occurred.
Rodriguez’s resignation letter did not mention the massacre or the scrutiny on his department since.