Posted Apr 20, 2020 at 2:52 PM
https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20200420/rsquoborn-to-be-lawmanrsquo-carter-brank-oconee-deputy-and-ex-gbi-agent-dies
Oconee County sheriff’s investigator Carter Brank, a law enforcement officer skilled in numerous police tactics from bomb disposal to white-collar crime, died Saturday while riding his bicycle with friends in Oglethorpe County.
“I’m still trying to process it,” Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry said Monday about the shock of learning about the death of Brank, who spent 31 years with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Brank, 62, was on mile 15 of a 20-mile bike ride when he suffered a massive heart attack, Berry said. Two other Oconee deputies were riding with him and life-saving measures were attempted, including assistance from a passerby who identified herself as a nurse, Berry said.
“Carter knew somebody everywhere,” Berry said. “If you needed to talk to somebody in Baltimore, Carter knew a guy there.”
“I worked with Carter for over 30 years and he was an excellent GBI agent and a great GBI supervisor,” retired GBI Director Vernon Keenan said Monday. “He worked many important cases and he supervised the busiest office in the GBI — the Atlanta Metro Office.”
Brank was skilled in many areas of law enforcement, from bomb disposal to fraud investigations.
In Oconee County, he also served as a drone pilot and firearms and general law enforcement instructor, and he worked arson and child-endangerment cases, according to Berry.
“He was deep — he had skills that we’re going to miss,” Berry said.
Brank, who grew up in Columbia, S.C., graduated the University of South Carolina with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for the Lexington County (S.C) Sheriff’s Office before taking his skill set to Georgia.
Brank “did love his Gamecocks,” Berry said about the graduate who continued to attend home football games in Columbia.
Brank and his wife, Crystal, have two children, Jeff and Caroline.
Keenan said all of Carter’s friends described him as the “picture of perfect health.”
“He was an exercise guru,” Keenan said about the officer, who was also known to dress immaculately and who daily carried a variety of gear while on duty.
When Brank, who lived in Oconee County, knew his retirement was imminent at the GBI, he contacted Berry about a job.
“I hired him on Sept. 15 of 2014,” Berry said. “I told Carter he’d have to work the streets before he could go into CID and he was all about it. He knew he’d have to pay his dues here, too. He knew what he had to do to make it here and be respected and become one of the guys.”
Brank eventually became a sergeant in investigations.
Keenan said he was not surprised in the least when he first learned the former agent had opted out of retirement and was working as a road deputy in Oconee County.
“I knew he was born to be a lawman,” the veteran officer said.
IN SUPPORT OF CARTER BRANK'S FAMILY
DEKALB COUNTY CHIEFS ASSOCIATION (DCCA)
· By obtaining a raffle ticket (either by purchase or as a gift) you attest that you are a law abiding citizen of good moral character, above the age of 18, may legally possess the firearm(s) won, have intention of using the firearm(s) only in a legal and safe manner, and will or have already obtained instruction on the safe use and operation of the firearm(s) won.
· The drawings will occur on July 14, 2021 during the scheduled DCCA Meeting.
· The raffle winners will receive an email notification to their email submitted during purchase of their tickets.
· Proceeds from this raffle benefit the family of Retired GBI Agent Carter Brank.
· Winners must be at least 21 years old to take possession of a pistol.
· Winner is responsible for all fees associated with any background check required to take possession of their prize.
· ALL PRIZES MUST BE CLAIMED AND TRANSFERS COMPLETED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE SCHEDULED DATE THE TICKET IS DRAWN.
· Winners have the option of having their prize transferred to their local FFL dealer for delivery. All firearm transfers will be done through a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer, and all applicable Federal and State laws will apply, including the state laws for the legal residence of winning ticket holder. Winner is responsible for all shipping and transfer fees.
· Winners will be responsible for any applicable Federal, State and local taxes.
· At no time will the DeKalb County Chief's Association take possession of any of the firearms involved in this raffle; winners will receive firearms directly from their designated FFL dealer only, all applicable laws will apply.
· By purchasing raffle ticket(s), you agree that the DeKalb County Chief's Association liability is limited to the purchase price of the raffle ticket.
