Thomas Breen photo
Lakisha Franklin (right) at Wednesday's presser.
“You see something, you say something. You know something, you say something. You have to. It’s not cool to not say something. It’s cool to share.”
With those words, Lakisha Franklin thanked the Fair Haven community members who came forward to help the police swiftly arrest her brother Robert’s alleged murderer — as she encouraged others across the city to do the same if they have information that could solve crimes and prevent future violence.
Franklin gathered with a half-dozen of her family members and friends as well as with Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Karl Jacobson, and a handful of fellow top city cops for a press conference Wednesday afternoon on the third floor of police headquarters at 1 Union Ave.
The focus of the presser was city police’s arrest on July 18 of a 46-year-old Fair Havener who allegedly stabbed to death 49-year-old New Havener Robert Franklin during an altercation at Exchange and Lloyd Streets on July 15.
Asst. Chief Bert Ettienne.
Assistant Police Chief Bert Ettienne said that “witness accounts and video surveillance” played a key role in helping cops make an arrest so quickly, thanks to the investigative work of lead Det. Daniel Conklin. The arrested man has been charged with murder and is being held on a $2 million bond. (Click here to read more about the case.)
Speaking on behalf of Franklin’s family, Lakisha Franklin thanked the police for the swift arrest — and thanked the “Fair Haven community for loving my brother.”
“A lot of people say snitching, ratting,” she said, but “that made the difference. That you guys loved Robert Franklin Jr., ‘Cool Rob,’ enough that you guys came forward immediately. We hadn’t even buried him, but the healing process can begin because the person is in custody.”
She urged others to come forward to the police to in particular help solve another murder that took place more than eight years ago on that same stretch of Exchange Street: that of 16-year-old Jericho Scott. “If you want to bring peace to that family, bring justice to that family and to others,” then speak up.
Asked to describe her late brother’s personality, Franklin said, “If Rob knew you, he loved you. I’m not gonna say he was perfect. But his best foot was always put forward.”
Det. Daniel Conklin.
Also at Wednesday’s presser, Jacobson said that police have made 10 arrests in the 14 homicides that have taken place so far this year. He praised Conklin for being an exceptionally effective detective, having closed seven of the nine homicide cases he’s been assigned over the course of his career as a New Haven detective so far.
Jacobson said that, year to date, city police have seized 157 guns, 21 of which are ghost guns, and have made 126 gun-related arrests. That’s compared to 148 guns seized, including 28 ghost guns, and 29 such arrests at this time last year.
So far this year, there have been 14 homicides and 39 nonfatal shootings, compared to 7 homicides and 67 nonfatal shootings at this time last year.
Condolences to the family and friends of Rob Franklin. Det. Conklin, who survived persecution early in his career because of his ethical, moral, and legal pursuit of those that violated the law, and victimized the defenseless, is beyond outstanding. His "numbers" belie the core problems of the NHPD Detective Division for generations now. Competent, hardworking, truly dedicated individuals, who showed the highest quality in invetigating murders, the greatest understanding of how legal arrests should be pursued, end up carrying the bulk of major investigations. 90% of those who would call themselves "Detectives", and have acquired the "Gold Shield", cannot and will not give it the full commitment it takes to succeed, for the service of families of victims. It is understandable, when one examines the lack of competent supervisors, who are placed in charge of leading investigations, or managing the unit, by appointment. Supervisors can be transferred into the Detective Unit, or out, at the whims of the Chief or City Hall. They are not tested for those positions, which are arguably the most critical in the department. Also, the "normalization" of gross violations of the law, murder in this case, has been accepted by the portion of the population, in the economically suppressed neighborhoods in the city. Except to those who were closest to the victims. It is a large difference between having first hand loss, to those who would comment, that have not suffered a premature, violent, and tragic loss of a relative, or friend. A press conference to announce the "healing" is insulting. The truth is that no one "heals" from such a loss. They carry on. They try and live the best life they can to honor the memory of a son, Father, daughter, Mother, sister, brother, niece, nephew, friend, unjustly, but a fact that will go with them until they themselves pass on. Normalizing vicious and illegal deaths should be a sin. Or a crime. Is it a crime?