In what is thought to be the first criminal conviction and prison term for a Travis County police officer involving the use of force, Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in prison for the 2019 shooting death of Mauritius DeSilvain.
Taylor and a number of other police went to a 911 call regarding a man who was acting strangely and brandishing a knife at the Spring Condominiums in downtown Austin. When the officers reached the fifth story of the complex, they found DeSilva with a knife. DeSilva, who had a history of mental instability, was shot and murdered by Taylor seconds after the elevator doors opened.
Officer Taylor’s defense team is presently contesting the conviction; until the appeal is heard, Taylor will be released on bond.
After the sentencing, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis released a statement in which she expressed her grief over the loss and emphasized the department’s resolve to review its procedures and training. She recognized the difficulties that the Austin community and the Austin Police Department confront, emphasizing the value of openness, responsibility, and making sure that officers are properly trained, fit, and prepared to serve the public.
Chief Davis emphasized that officer safety and the sanctity of human life would continue to be at the center of the department’s operations, and she reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening its policies and procedures to stop similar events in the future.
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