Phoenix police will have to wait to fire Richard Chrisman, the patrol officer charged with murder and aggravated assault in the death of an unarmed domestic violence suspect.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Phoenix police from scheduling Chrisman to defend himself in an internal meeting on Tuesday. The ruling prevents police leaders from terminating Chrisman until the judge can re-evaluate the case.

Attorneys for Chrisman argued that the south Phoenix patrolman would have to waive his constitutional rights to defend himself before Public Safety Manager Jack Harris.

Chrisman, 36, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated assault and animal cruelty in the Oct. 5 shooting of 29-year-old domestic violence suspect Danny Rodriguez.

The shooting reignited a citywide debate over police use-of-force issues, leading a city-appointed citizen task force to recommend mandatory drug screening for officers involved in on-duty shootings.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig granted the temporary order on Monday and scheduled an injunction hearing for Nov. 9 to determine if the restraining order will remain in place through Chrisman's ongoing criminal trial, according to the Phoenix Law Department.

The three weeks between Chrisman's indictment and scheduled termination hearing was uncommonly quick, according to Phoenix Law Enforcement Association board member Will Buividas, one of the union leaders representing Chrisman through the internal-disciplinary review.

Police officers accused of wrongdoing usually have several months before internal-affairs detectives can complete their investigation, after which the facts are reviewed and presented to accused officers and their labor representatives, he said.

"We just want this process to slow down so Rich has his due process rights preserved," Buividas said.

"I don't know why there's a rush to terminate him so fast," he said. "He doesn't have a badge. He doesn't have a gun. He's not on the streets right now."

Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said Loudermill hearings are held in cases where police leaders feel that misconduct charges are significant enough to fire an officer, no matter the timeline. He confirmed that Chrisman remained on paid administrative leave.

Chrisman and a fellow officer struggled to control Rodriguez during a fight at the suspect's mother's south Phoenix home, authorities have said. Chrisman shot and killed Rodriguez during the scuffle in which the suspect was also shot with a Taser and maced with pepper spray -- firing multiple times into Rodriguez's chest as the suspect attempted to flee on his bicycle, according to investigator accounts in court records.