Austin Police Chief Stan Knee said his decision to fire Julie Schroeder was based on police policy. For two hours during Schroeder's appeal hearing Thursday, Knee defended his decision.

Police are required to confirm suspects have weapons before shooting. Officer Schroeder did not confirm Daniel Rocha, 18, was holding her taser before she shot Rocha in the back during a struggle in June 2005.

"Where she was at, with what was going on, the interaction between the sergeant and Daniel Rocha … firing a shot, I believe, was a bad decision," Knee said.

The Austin Police Association has openly criticized Knee's decision saying he only fired her because of the community's outcry and political pressure.

On Thursday Schroeder's lawyer, Tom Stribling, argued Knee's decision was a bad one.

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"I think that she has to confirm her suspicions … It appears to me that she was in a position to take that moment to figure out whether he had her taser or not," Knee replied.

"So, if it takes 2 seconds or 5 seconds or 10, she has to confirm her decisions before she uses deadly force," Stribling said.

"Yes," Knee said.

As Stribling worked to get Schroeder's job back, Rocha's mother, Daniela, sat quietly in the front row of the room reliving many of the details of her son's death.

"It's been hard for me to see and hear evidence and how they mention my son's name," Rocha said.

Rocha's mother has come up with her own conclusion.

"It's going pretty well. On my behalf, I feel pretty strong that what she did was wrong," she said.

Knee's time on the stand is over. There is one more key testimony remaining -- Julie Schroeder will tell her side of the story Friday.

The hearing examiner, who is presiding over the appeal, will have the final say whether Schroeder gets her job back.