Consulting, Investigating, Educating

dfistrategies@gmail.com

Dave Franco

(773) 677-2560

DFI Strategies Establishment and Mission:

DFI Strategies was founded after my 31-year tenure as a Chicago Police Officer. My diverse experience included roles in Community Policing, Area Five on the Westside of Chicago, the Narcotics Division, and a brief period at City Hall.

Following my time at City Hall, I transitioned to the Law Department where I spearheaded the implementation of innovative law enforcement strategies on a city-wide scale.

Notably, I played a key role in developing the Drug and Gang House Ordinance, a pioneering approach that combined civil prosecution with criminal charges to combat illicit activities linked to properties or businesses.

This ordinance remains a crucial tool in addressing crime and disorder. While working in the Labor Division of Law, I focused on investigating cases of employee misconduct, with a specialization in police misconduct and Federal Civil Rights violations.

Approaching retirement, I was invited by the city of Chicago to continue my investigative endeavors. In 2020, I established DFI Strategies LLC to further pursue this important work.

Skills and Competencies:

Witness Location and Credibility Assessment: Expert in locating witnesses and determining their credibility through meticulous background checks and interview techniques.

Interviewing and Trial Preparation: Skilled in conducting thorough and effective witness interviews and preparing comprehensive reports for trial.

Complex Case Management: Adept at managing complex, long-term investigations involving multiple witnesses and intricate details.

Background Investigations and Process Serving: Proficient in conducting detailed background investigations and serving legal documents as part of the investigative process.

Notable Case Involvements:

• Rekia Boyd - Dante Servin Case: Investigated the circumstances and witness testimonies surrounding the police misconduct case involving the fatal shooting of Rekia Boyd by off-duty officer Dante Servin.
  
• Quintonio LaGrier and Bettie Jones - Robert Rialmo Case: Conducted in-depth investigations into the police shooting that resulted in the deaths of Quintonio LaGrier and Bettie Jones by officer Robert Rialmo.
  
• Dakota Bright - Joseph Ternand Case: Led the investigation into the police shooting of 15-year-old Dakota Bright by officer Joseph Ternand, focusing on witness accounts and officer conduct.
  

Client List:

• The City of Chicago
• The City of Evanston
  
• The City of Waukegan
  
• Hinshaw and Culbertson
  
• Greenberg Traurig
  
• Michael Best
  
• 12th Circuit Court of Will County
  
• Various private law firms