Community mourns loss of ABI investigator Faulkner
ABI Cpl. Brian Faulkner passed away on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident that occurred March 9 in Cherokee.
The law enforcement community is mourning the loss of one of their own this week after ABI Cpl. Brian Faulkner passed away on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident that occurred March 9 in Cherokee.
Those who knew Faulkner best said his loss is one that has affected the entire community because of his strong commitment and dedication to seeking justice for the people of North Alabama.
Fellow ABI investigator Rodney Knight said he had never seen someone with so much natural ability to serve his community as an investigator and seek justice for those who needed it the most.
“When Brian first moved into his position with the ABI, I was the one who was assigned to train him,” Knight said, “but after being with him for just a short time, I knew it wasn’t going to take very much for him to be trained.
“Brian was just a natural. It’s like he was born to be an investigator, and it was all he ever really wanted to do.
“He had great instincts and was so thorough. That, combined with his outstanding work ethic, made him one of the best investigators I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. There was no case that was too big for Brian, and he was going to make sure he found a way to get justice for any and all victims involved.
“Brian was one in a million and there will never be another one like him.”
Faulkner covered multiple counties in his capacity as an ABI investigator and has been instrumental in several major cases that have occurred in Franklin County.
“I met Brian in his capacity as an ABI investigator,” Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.
“He worked several major cases with law enforcement officers in this county and did an outstanding job each time.
“He was a wonderful person who had compassion for victims and that carried over to his dedication to his job.”
Russellville Police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery worked three separate murder cases with Faulkner, as well as other cases, and said he learned so much from his time spent with him professionally.
“In the time that I got to know Brian and in the cases we worked together, I was able to see just how dedicated Brian was to his job and to each case that he worked,” Lowery said.
“He was very detailed and always went that extra mile to be sure that every victim and every family member of a victim was treated with dignity and respect and that they were able to receive the justice that he believed each one of them deserved.
“As a fellow investigator, that was very inspiring for me, and I value each minute that I was able to spend working with him.
“Brian was a great investigator, a great friend, and I will miss him every day.”
Outside of his investigative work, those who were close to Faulkner said that there wasn’t any situation that he couldn’t make better.
“Brian was just one of those people who could make you feel better as soon as he stepped in the room,” Knight said.
“Whether he was comforting a victim or a victim’s family or just being there for a friend, he always seemed to know exactly what to do and say.
“When my mom passed away as a result of the tornado that came through Hackleburg on April 27, Brian came to my house immediately and was there for me and my family. He checked on me constantly. But that was just the kind of person Brian was. He was an amazing investigator, but he was an even better friend.”
David Singleton, who started working with Faulkner at the District Attorney’s Office in Colbert County before taking a position in the Franklin County DA’s Office, agreed that Faulkner was an even better friend than he was a colleague.
“I worked with Brian for many years. He was the best at everything he did and was the best officer I’ve ever worked with,” he said.
“But beyond that, he was also the best friend you could want. I can’t think of a single important life event since I met him that he wasn’t there for. I’ve never met a funnier, more dependable person, and I will always miss him.”
Rushing said Faulkner’s sense of humor and quick wit were endearing qualities that made him the life of any party.
“Nobody can speak about Brian without mentioning his great sense of humor and he could put a smile on your face even under the worst of circumstances,” Rushing said.
“He was also a fine person all the way around. He was dedicated to his family, coworkers and friends and found the positive in every situation.
“I will miss him both personally and professionally and his death is a great loss to law enforcement in North Alabama.”
Visitation for ABI Cpl. Brian Faulkner will be on Friday, March 21, from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home in Tuscumbia. The funeral service will be on Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m. at Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals.
