Prominent Santa Cruz Political and Police Figure Basilio Franco Dies at 74

Basilio Franco, a prominent figure who spent decades bridging the worlds of public security and local politics in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has died unexpectedly. He passed away while walking on Pedro Suárez Hernández street in the Ofra district. The Santa Cruz City Council confirmed his death, noting the end of a career that held significant influence over both local administration and the National Police in the Canary Islands.

Franco’s career was marked by a dual role that often created institutional tension. Between 1995 and 2003, he served as a councilman under then-mayor Miguel Zerolo, overseeing the Environment and Security portfolios. During this time, municipal sources described him as a member of the mayor’s inner circle, working closely with other officials like Hilario Rodríguez and Norberto Plasencia.

Alongside his political work, Franco built a long career in law enforcement. In late 2008, he was appointed head of the Provincial Operational Coordination Unit (UCOP), making him the second-in-command of the Provincial Police Station and the acting chief whenever the head commissioner was away.

This overlap of roles drew public scrutiny in 2011. The Spanish Police Confederation (CEP) formally requested that Franco be temporarily removed from his UCOP position, arguing that his close ties to Mayor Zerolo could compromise the neutrality of the ongoing Las Teresitas corruption investigation. Zerolo was later sentenced to seven years in prison in 2017 for prevarication and embezzlement. Despite the union's pressure, Franco remained in his post, and there is no evidence that he interfered with the investigation.