Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor Conviction Reversed

AUSTIN, Texas—Immediately following the conviction of our member, Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) retained Austin appellate lawyer, Rick Wetzel, to represent Officer Taylor through the appeals process. Last night we learned that the 7th Court of Appeals reversed and acquitted Taylor in the case brought by Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza. 

The blatant attack on Officer Taylor and the law enforcement profession as a whole by a Soros-funded, anti-police district attorney is finally being called out for what it is… a deliberate, politically motivated assault on our men and women in blue who answer calls from the public and keep them safe and out of harm’s way. 

“DA Garza misused the law by trying to exploit a loophole in the Deadly Conduct Statute. The statute had NEVER been used against a law enforcement officer in its decades-long existence until the defund the police movement swept our country,” said Robert Leonard, CLEAT Executive Director.

During the 89th legislative session, CLEAT drafted language and worked with Representative Cole Hefner and Senator Phil King to pass legislation that would end the purposeful abuse of the Deadly Conduct Statute by rogue district attorneys. 

CLEAT Legal will continue fighting whatever battles necessary as we represent our members who remain under indictment by a tyrant who chooses to target our protectors while letting criminals terrorize innocent citizens. 

The legal costs associated with the representation of Officer Taylor were staggering, but our 28,000-member strong organization can’t be stopped. Every officer, every deputy, every trooper, will ALWAYS enjoy the full support and legal defense they deserve. 

About CLEAT: Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) is the largest law enforcement union in Texas, dedicated to providing legal protection, legislative advocacy, and professional support for law enforcement professionals statewide and consisting of over 28,000 members. With a commitment to protecting the rights of officers and ensuring they have the resources needed to serve their communities effectively, CLEAT stands at the forefront of law enforcement representation. For more information, visit www.cleat.org.

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