Uvalde appoints permanent police chief

UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Uvalde announced it would appoint Homer Delgado, who has served as the interim chief of police, as the permanent chief of the Uvalde Police Department.

Delgado is set to step into the new role Saturday, according to a release.

“Chief Delgado brings more than 28 years of experience in law enforcement, including more than 20 years in supervisory and leadership roles, to the position,” the city said.

According to a release, Delgado was hired 11 months ago and has since initiated process and policy improvements, conducted evaluations of current employees, policies and department practices, as well as identified areas in need of improvement and taken steps to address them.

“After the Robb Elementary tragedy in May 2022, Delgado formed and led ‘Operation Coyote Overwatch,’ bringing together over 500 law enforcement officers from across Texas to support the safety and security of the Uvalde community,” the city said.

After his appointment, Delgado released the following statement.

I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the position of Chief of Police for the City of Uvalde. 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.

Homer Delgado, Chief of the Uvalde Police Department