Following a criminal investigation into the fatal officer-involved shooting of 42-year-old William Whitfield on July 24, 2022, Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Walton determined Benton Police Officer Brian Franklin was justified in his actions. The shooting resulted from a traffic stop turned pursuit that began near Cox and Edison and ended in the 2000 block of Kay Road. Whitfield succumbed to injuries sustained in the encounter.
The following video explains the incident in detail with pauses for explanation and clarification of the actions of both Whitfield and Officer Franklin. We made the video available not only to comply with FOIA law and requests but also in hopes that it will give the public insight into the many split-second decisions that must be made by officers in a critical incident.
For additional records inquiries, please contact the BNPD Records Office at 501-776-5948.
