“Pete Arredondo is a coward. He didn’t do his job. He failed the children,” said neighbor Lydia Torres, 56.

Torres spoke as local police spent the day guarding Arredondo’s home. The embattled chief repeatedly declined to comment Saturday.

Torres was furious Arredondo, who heads the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police, had gone to ground since the state’s top cop revealed new details of the police response. At least 19 officers were in the hallway as Ramos shot at the door, but police didn’t advance until a tactical unit arrived and killed the gunman, authorities said.

Local cops have kept guard outside Arredondo’s house around the clock.

“I do not understand why the police from Uvalde, Texas, are guarding Pete Arredondo’s home,” Torres said. “He is hiding in his home, requesting the PD patrol the area and guard his home day and night. He should come out and speak up.”