Texas’ top state police chief, Col. Steve McCraw, who faced criticism for the response to the Robb Elementary school shooting in 2022 and led the efforts to curb migrant crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border under Governor Greg Abbott, has announced his retirement at the end of this year. McCraw, who has been the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety since 2009, disclosed his retirement plans while speaking at a state trooper graduation ceremony in Austin.

In his address, McCraw did not provide details on his decision to step down but commended the bravery and dedication of the agency’s employees without specifically referencing any past police actions during his tenure. He praised the troopers for their courage in facing danger and acknowledged their support from state leadership, the Legislature, and the people of Texas.

McCraw was not present during the tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde on May 24, 2022, where 19 fourth-graders and two teachers lost their lives. Critical reports following the incident highlighted failures in training, communication, leadership, and technology among the law enforcement response team. State Senator Roland Gutierrez criticized McCraw for not taking accountability sooner after the massacre, attributing the delay in confronting the shooter to him.

Following the shooting, former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales were indicted on charges related to child abandonment and endangerment. McCraw reinstated one of the few DPS troopers disciplined for their response to the Uvalde incident, which led to a lawsuit from families of the victims seeking $500 million in damages.

Aside from the Uvalde controversy, McCraw’s tenure also involved overseeing Governor Abbott’s border security initiative, known as “Operation Lone Star.” This mission involved deploying state troopers to the border, granting the National Guard arrest powers, transporting migrants to Washington, D.C., and using buoys in the Rio Grande to deter illegal crossings. Additionally, the DPS was involved in managing police actions during campus protests at the University of Texas earlier this year over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Governor Abbott praised McCraw as a highly respected law enforcement official, describing him as a quintessential Texan lawman.