Family of Phoenix Man Shot and Killed Demands Change in Investigation

The Conflict of Interest in Investigating the Death of Paul Franco

The Background of the Case

Paul Franco, a 51-year-old man, was killed by a woman claiming self-defense during an argument with pro-Palestinian protestors on the Fourth of July in Phoenix. The woman had not been charged with any crime during the incident, and claims self-defense. Nevertheless, Franco’s family believes there is a conflict of interest for the Phoenix Police Department to investigate the killing while the woman who shot Paul Franco is suing the department in a separate case.

The Call for Another Agency to Investigate the Case

Paul Franco’s family is calling for Phoenix police to refer the case to another agency like the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office because they believe the police department cannot conduct an impartial investigation due to the current lawsuit the shooter has against the department. The family is worried that the ongoing civil case against the Phoenix police department may influence the investigation into Paul Franco’s death.

The Lawyer’s Perspective on Investigating Someone Who is Suing Law Enforcement

According to Benjamin Taylor, an Arizona civil rights attorney, it is not uncommon for law enforcement agencies to investigate people who are currently suing them or may do so in the future. Taylor says that it is a regular occurrence for civil rights attorneys to sue law enforcement agencies, which means that law enforcement agencies must investigate people who are currently suing them from time to time. Although a conflict of interest may appear to exist on the surface, the reality of the matter is that this type of situation arises frequently.

The Police Department’s Response

When 12News asked Phoenix Police Department whether the department could investigate someone who is suing them for a crime, the department responded with a statement. The police department is committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the events leading to Paul Franco’s death, a process that may include review from an outside police agency. Upon completion, the investigation will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review and charging decisions.

Conclusion

The investigation into Paul Franco’s death is ongoing. The Phoenix Police Department is reviewing surveillance video, cell-phone videos, and is taking witness statements to ascertain the veracity of the woman’s self-defense claim. While investigating someone who is suing them may appear to have a conflict of interest, law enforcement agencies do this all the time. Law enforcement agencies have the responsibility to thoroughly and impartially investigate crimes. It is ultimately up to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to decide whether the woman acted in self-defense, regardless of whether she is suing the Phoenix Police Department or not.

Originally Post From https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/family-of-phoenix-man-shot-and-killed-calls-for-phoenix-police-to-hand-the-case-to-another-agency/75-3f5bb3a8-1270-433b-b4d0-662da768eb5d