Texas officer was fired ‘to appease,’ attorney says

DALLAS – Brad Miller, the Arlington police rookie who fatally shot Christian Taylor, 19, was fired to “appease anti-police activists,” the ex-officer’s attorney said Wednesday.

Miller’s attorney, John Snider, bit back at Arlington Police criticism that the rookie cop used poor judgment when he entered a car dealership by himself to chase Taylor, prior to shooting the unarmed teen.

“Officer Miller made decisions in the heat of a violent confrontation to save his and other officers’ lives,” Snider said.

“A four-day ‘investigation’ and media theatrics are not even close to due process. This decision, while politically expedient for Chief (Will) Johnson, is an insult to the rank-and-file officers who put their lives on the line every day.”

The shooting has sparked local protests and become part of the ongoing national debate over police use of force against unarmed minorities. Miller is white; Taylor was black.