Amid the shifting tides of legality and public service, the Austin Police Department finds itself at a crossroads regarding the fate of former officer Christopher Taylor. CBS Austin reports that following his acquittal for the 2019 shooting of Mauris DeSilva, Taylor has had his peace officer license reinstated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
DeSilva, experiencing a mental health crisis and armed with a knife, was fatally shot by Taylor, which led to the former officer's initial conviction on a deadly conduct charge. The conviction was overturned, and a subsequent declaration of innocence seems, according to KVUE, to clear Taylor's path back to the force. After Taylor's sentencing to prison, the APD confirmed his separation from the department.
In his own words, Tyler Latham, Vice President of the Austin Police Association, said to CBS Austin, "I hope that in the near future they will be making an offer back to Detective Taylor to bring him back on and restore him to what he was before." Whether this hope translates into action rests upon the shoulders of the APD and particularly its Chief, Lisa Davis, who is coordinating with the City Attorney's Office regarding the situation.
Though the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement describes Taylor's case as rare and unusual, another officer involved in the shooting has already found a new role within the department, teaching officers about the use of lethal force at the APD training academy. The specifics of Taylor's potential reemployment, including assignment and rank, remain a matter of speculation as Chief Davis has yet to issue a public decision.
The Austin Police Association eagerly anticipates Taylor's rehire, with the fact of his license reinstatement and current training status serving as an argument in favor of his immediate eligibility to return to duty. However, as Davis deliberates with legal counsel and the community watches on, no clear timeline has been set for when, or if, Taylor will don his badge once again.
