AUSTIN, Texas — A state representative from Austin has filed a bill that could begin removing police officers from mental health emergency calls and transferring much of the responsibility to paramedics.
The effort comes amid attention on the recent conviction of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, who shot and killed a man with a knife suffering a mental health episode.
State Rep. Donna Howard didn’t cite the shooting involving Taylor as the driving force behind the bill. Instead, she said she is focused on the goal of making sure those having a mental health break get the best help…