AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Hours after a two-year prison sentence was handed down in the deadly conduct trial of former Austin Police officer Christopher Taylor, the head of Austin's police union says officers should stop responding to mental health calls.
“We have never claimed to be mental health experts, yet we are continually scrutinized for our handling of these situations," Austin Police Association president Michael Bullock said in a video statement. "Now that we’re left with the options of being stabbed or going to prison, Travis County and the District Attorney’s Office should be the ones to incur the risk.”
Tuesday, state district judge Dayna Blazey sentenced Taylor to two years in prison. Taylor remains free on an appellate bond while his case works through the appeals process, one that could take years to play out.
Wednesday, APD confirmed that Taylor's employment had been terminated. With the conviction, Taylor is ineligible to be licensed as a peace officer.
"The reality is, now officers face an impossible situation that is going to create hesitancy within officers... it's going to make them second guess, because Chris Taylor acted within his training," Bullock said Thursday on Talk 1370's Cardle & Woolley.
Bullock says he and APA will continue to fight for officers, including what he views as targeted efforts from the Travis County District Attorney's office that focus too much on law enforcement as opposed to criminals.
