Franco graduated from the police academy in 1978. Franco has been a law enforcement officer for more than 30 years, and served as the Doña Ana County Undersheriff. Franco began working in law enforcement, starting as a game warden. In 1996, Franco ran for a position as Magistrate judge in Doña Ana County. He won, and served for three years. During his career, Franco has worked for "the Las Cruces Police Department, the city's Weed and Seed program and the ." Franco was a police detective when the Las Cruces Bowling Alley massacre occurred. "As part of the investigation, he had to videotape the scene." In 1992, Martínez was fired by then District Attorney Greg Valdez. Valdez stated that Martínez brought in a case that Franco was working on. "A potential conflict of interest between Martínez and Franco was an issue in the late 1990s, when she first became district attorney. Franco was a magistrate judge, and some cases being prosecuted by the district attorney’s office were assigned to him. Franco was running for re-election in 1996, the same year Martínez first ran for DA. His Democratic opponent and others said there would be a conflict if both were elected. But Franco and Martinez said Franco would recuse himself from all cases involving the DA’s office." Franco's relationship with Martinez was twice raised as a concern when, as District Attorney, "she had to decide whether officer-involved shootings were justified." Franco was a member of Martínez' search team for members of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Presently, Franco is a retired career cop. From January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2019, he served in the role of First Gentleman of New Mexico. In October 2018 Franco took a job with the Doña Ana County Assessor's office in Las Cruces.
New Mexico Coalition for Literacy
is one of three main causes to which Franco has decided to dedicate his time. is "a cause close to his heart from his work in Las Cruces under the federally funded Weed and Seed program to help at-risk youths. There he saw firsthand how improving reading skills helped kids succeed in school." Franco stated that "'supporting the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy also complements Gov. Susana Martinez' push to improve K-12 education in the state'" Franco observed, while working with troubled youth, "that their issues ran beyond behavioral problems. Having parents at home who couldn't read was one of them."
