POLICE OFFICERS FEDERATION OF MINNEAPOLIS PRESS RELEASE
POLICE OFFICERS FEDERATION OF MINNEAPOLIS
PRESS RELEASE
ALLEGATIONS IN FRANKLIN LAWSUIT OUTRAGEOUS
Friday, May 9, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Lt. John Delmonico
President, Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis
(612) 281-0811
“The complaint filed in Federal Court today by the family of Terrance Franklin maliciously and falsely attacks not just the officers that risked their lives to apprehend Franklin but also every Minneapolis police officer” said Lt. John Delmonico, President of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis. Franklin was shot and killed by Minneapolis police officers one year ago after he grabbed a gun from officers and shot two of them. A Hennepin County grand jury later cleared the officers of wrongdoing.
Delmonico stated that “the allegations are so inflammatory and so lacking any basis in reality that they clearly were made to incite racial tensions and disparage the Minneapolis police rather than to actually advance a legitimate legal claim.” “I understand how a family member can be in denial about the conduct of their relative, but the lawyers who signed this complaint are obligated to be truthful in legal pleadings” he added. “The nonsense in this complaint isn’t even worthy of what you’d read in the tabloids at the checkout counter, let alone a document filed in Federal Court.” Delmonico indicated that the defamed officers are reviewing their· options for legal action against the plaintiffs and their lawyers. In response to being asked which allegations were false, Delmonico said “virtually all of them.” “About the only accurate facts are the names of the people involved. None of the claims describing the conduct of the parties is true,” he added.
“The plain and simple fact is that Terrance Franklin died because he chose to flee the police, he broke into a home to escape capture and he shot two officers rather than surrender. Franklin did not die because of the color of his skin,” Delmonico stated. He concluded by saying the officers involved in this incident acted heroically in the face of grave danger and are all exemplary officers. Delmonico did acknowledge, however, that no matter how many people investigate or review this case and conclude that the officers’ actions were reasonable and necessary, “some people will believe what they want to believe. Heck, there are people who still believe that Elvis is alive. They are not going to let facts and irrefutable evidence get in the way.”
PRESIDENT
John C. Delmonico
VICE PRESIDENT
Robert J. Kroll
SECRETARY
Bruce M. Jensen
TREASURER
Lyall B. Delaney
DIRECTORS
W illiam F. Bjork
Wallace M. Krueger
Sherral R. Miller-Schmidt
Ronald A. Stenerson
Daniel D. Ungurian
Joseph R. McGinness
Park Police Representative
