Texas Legislators Push for Police Exemption from Deadly Conduct Offenses

In 2019, Austin police encountered Mauris DeSilva, who was experiencing a mental health crisis while holding a knife. Officer Christopher Taylor fatally shot DeSilva, despite claims from his father that the son posed no threat to others. Following a conviction for deadly conduct, which is rare, Texas lawmakers are now proposing Senate Bill 1637 to shield officers from such charges. Critics assert this legislation would empower reckless usage of force. Experts argue it risks diminishing accountability for police misconduct while potentially leading to harsher charges in future incidents.