BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike is a former Law Enforcement Officer from Oregon. Although he was a “late-bloomer” in the field, Mike loved police work and valued his time in the field. He received many promotions and was assigned to many specialty units during his tenure. He received the Top Shooter award for his department and prided himself in working hard for all his community and fellow officers. At the time he left law enforcement, Mike was their Union Vice-President, working for his fellow officers’ rights. After leaving the department, Mike moved with his family to Arizona and proceeded to fulfill his next dream, becoming an entrepreneur. Mike always had the desire to help the less fortunate and saw first-hand how in a political climate, officers can be hung out to dry by their departments in trying times. So, with the help of the others on the board, Mike worked diligently to create UNCUFF. With the success that UNCUFF has seen, Mike and the board decided it’s only right to open the non-profit up to ANYONE that has been unjustly convicted or accused of a crime.

Brian Franklin is a former Fort Worth, Texas police officer.  He was an officer for over 10 years, which included being a training officer.  He was wrongfully convicted of rape in February 1995, and spent over 21 years wrongfully incarcerated in prison.  His first habeas corpus application was denied by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in April 2002, even though after a several day hearing the trial court determined that Brian was actually innocent in February 2000, and again in November 2001.  Brian's conviction was reversed and he was released in May 2016.  He was retried and acquitted by a jury in December 2016.  Brian currently works as a nursing assistant in a State mental hospital in Texas.  Brian is actively seeking wrongful imprisonment compensation from the State of Texas.

Erica Fuchs is a scientist from Iowa with a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University and an M.S. in Botany from Iowa State University, with a minor in Biochemistry.  She has performed DNA cloning, sequencing, and genetic engineering in a university biotechnology lab.  Erica has advocated for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence while volunteering and working at assault care centers in the past, and she currently volunteers her time to help wrongfully convicted individuals.

John Paolucci is a retired Detective Sergeant from NYPD who worked his last eight years in the Forensic Investigations Division, four of them as a Crime Scene Unit supervisor.  He was the first ever to command the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) Liaison Unit where he managed all DNA evidence in NYC and trained thousands of state, local, and federal investigators in DNA evidence collection and documentation.  He developed a strong alliance between the Office of Chief Medical Examiner Forensic Biology Department and NYPD.  He also worked as a Narcotics Undercover and Patrol Officer in the Housing Projects of the South Bronx.  He is currently the president of Forensics 4 Real Inc., where he provides forensic support to international and domestic investigations and expert analysis of crime scenes, specializing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and shooting incident reconstruction.  He trains students and law enforcement in forensic evidence and crime scene investigations at various venues including the Henry Lee Academy and has worked on real crime shows, appearing on both the ID Channel and A& E Network as well as numerous radio and print venues.  John is also an adjunct Professor at Mercy College in the Bronx, teaching students about Crime Scene Investigations and Criminalistics www.forensics4real.com.