CLEAT Statement Regarding Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor

AUSTIN, Texas—Officer Christopher Taylor acted within his training, written policies, and the law when he was forced to defend himself and others on July 31st, 2019. Despite all the experts, the training staff, and the leadership of the Austin Police Department agreeing with that, DA Jose Garza fulfilled his promise to pursue and persecute police officers when he indicted and tried Christopher Taylor in a politically motivated effort to fulfill his campaign promises.

CLEAT warned of DA Garza’s intent to go after cops in April of 2021, when we exposed DA Garza’s agenda and his efforts to recruit prosecutors for the specific intent of prosecuting law enforcement. Just a few short months after he took office, DA Garza published a job posting for an attorney interested in prosecuting police officers. At the time, CLEAT obtained a copy of an internal email sent to hopeful candidates stating, “I’m reaching out in the hopes that you may be looking to prosecute police officers, or that you know someone who is!” 

The past three and a half years have been a living nightmare for over thirty police officers across the county who have been wrongfully indicted, their names, lives, and careers tarnished forever and, in some cases, their freedom removed.

The future of law enforcement in Travis County, the State of Texas, and the entire country will be forever changed. Use of force experts and academy staff across the nation who teach future generations of police officers are faced with a dilemma the size of Texas. Law enforcement training is designed and intended to ensure not only the public’s safety but also that police officers go home safely to their families at the end of every shift. 

Law Enforcement staffing shortages are well documented across the country. But following the conviction of Officer Taylor, how do departments hire and retain qualified applicants when they know that they can be prosecuted by woke DAs like Jose Garza? How do departments train in light of this verdict?  The magnitude of this case will play out over time, but second-guessing training and tactics could cost an officer their life and that is our overwhelming fear as we process this news.

CLEAT respects the judicial process and our system of criminal justice. But the simple truth is the conviction of Officer Christopher Taylor was a politically motivated miscarriage of justice.

CLEAT is committed to our mission to provide the best legal protection possible to include appellate lawyers and any other avenues that may be available in the Taylor case.

Please keep the Taylor family in your prayers as well as all law enforcement answering calls from the public. The most noble and dangerous profession is under attack.

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