US: Uvalde school district suspends entire police force after mass shooting

Uvalde school officials on Friday (local time) suspended all of the district police department's activities, after May's attack that killed 19 children and two teachers.

"The District has made the decision to suspend all activities of the Uvalde CISD Police Department for a period of time. Officers currently employed will fill other roles in the district," the district said in a statement, reported CNN.

"The District has requested the Texas Department of Public Safety to provide additional troopers for campus and extra-curricular activities," the district said.

"We are confident that staff and student safety will not be compromised during this transition," it added, CNN reported.

The shooting incident that took place in the city of Uvalde has led to a nationwide outcry over gun laws in the United States. Several sports personalities, actors, writers, and celebrities have spoken about the incident.

Over half of Americans supported making gun violence laws more strict, The Hill reported citing a poll conducted between the mass shootings that took place this month in New York and Texas.

According to the American publication, 54 per cent of those surveyed in a CBS News-YouGov poll out Wednesday said they would like to see stricter laws regulating the sale of guns.

A total of 30 per cent said they wanted gun laws to remain the same, and 16 per cent said they wanted gun laws to be less strict, the report added.

Launching an attack against Democrats for not backing measures to increase security in schools, former US President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to be defending prominent gun-rights lobbying group National Rifle Association (NRA) amid growing calls for gun reforms.

Protestors had gathered in Washington DC as well in cities across the country to demonstrate against gun violence, reported local media.