Austin's Finest in a Pickle: New Chief Scrambles After Officer's Conviction

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis and her top brass had a bit of a wake-up call this Sunday. They're now rushing to make sure no more cops end up in the slammer for on-duty shootings. All this kerfuffle is thanks to Officer Christopher Taylor's conviction in the shooting death of a mentally ill man wielding a knife, as per an internal memo.

Davis, in a department-wide email, admitted, "This decision deeply affects all of us. It is unsettling, and it raises questions that must be addressed by APD leadership. We must ensure that all APD officers feel confident and prepared to encounter unpredictable and dangerous situations."

She added, "Together, we will develop a strategic plan to address this verdict. We value your input, and it will help direct us as we take action to prevent similar tragedies in the future."

Davis is just four weeks into her new gig, fresh from the Cincinnati Police Department, and hasn't even been officially sworn in yet. She's now leading a department that's never seen one of its own convicted for an on-duty fatal shooting. Welcome to Austin, Chief!

A Travis County jury found Taylor guilty of deadly conduct on Saturday in the death of Mauris DeSilva, a Sri Lankan researcher and scientist with a history of mental health issues. When officers arrived at his downtown condo, they took an elevator to confront him. As the doors opened, officers yelled commands, DeSilva moved toward them with a knife, and—bang!—police shot him.

Taylor now faces up to 10 years behind bars. His sentencing date hasn't been set yet.

In her email, Davis reminded officers to "take care of yourself and each other. I know that our department has been through so much in the last several years. As we address (the) verdict, we will do so together."

So much for the usual calm in the Lone Star State's weirdest city. Stay tuned, folks!