Neill Franklin

Major Neill Franklin (Ret.) is a distinguished law enforcement professional with a 34-year career serving the Maryland State Police and Baltimore Police Department. Beginning with 23 years at Maryland State Police, Franklin held key leadership roles including commander of the Education and Training Division and the Bureau of Drug and Criminal Enforcement. He was instrumental in establishing Maryland’s first Domestic Violence Investigative Units.

In 2000, Franklin was selected by the Baltimore Police Commissioner to rebuild and lead the Education and Training Section. His experiences shaped his critical view of the War on Drugs, influenced by community impact and the tragic death of a close colleague during an undercover operation. Consequently, Franklin became a leading advocate for drug policy reform.

From 2010 to 2020, he served as Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, advancing reformative public safety approaches. As a respected public speaker, Franklin has lectured and testified at many institutions, such as Harvard and Congress, and he is a frequent media contributor on CNN and MSNBC. His writings appear in major publications including the LA Times and Washington Post.

An expert witness in courts and active community leader, Franklin holds board positions with several safety and justice organizations. His work continues to drive meaningful change in policing and criminal justice reform.