Los Alamos Deputy Chief of Police Oliver Morris accepts a proclamation recognizing him on the occasion of his retirement from County Councilor Randall Ryti, far left. Also pictured are Morris’s wife, Kateri, son Ty and daughter Sierra. Deputy Chief Morris is retiring after 20 years of service to Los Alamos County. Photo by Julie Williams Hill/LAC

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County Council recognized Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris with a proclamation Tuesday evening recognizing him on the occasion of his retirement after 20 years of service to the County.

After listening to the proclamation, which included a comprehensive account of his accomplishments and contributions to LAPD and the community as a whole, Morris noted that in all that he has been a part of, “it is impossible to be successful if you don’t have a supportive family”.

“All this is applause for my wife of 20 years, Kateri, who works at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and my two children, Ty and Sierra. I couldn’t have done it without them. I don’t take this decision lightly but I’m looking forward to more time with my family. Thank you all for what you do and your service to the community. I appreciate it,” Morris said.

LAPD Chief DIno Sgambellone thanked Council for recognizing Morris.

“I’m glad you went through the highlights of his career because it’s hard to think about what to say, because he’s been so instrumental to so many people that there’s no way that I could adequately cover that. Let me just say that in my 33 years, it’s been a rare occasion to have the honor to work with somebody like Oliver. He exemplifies everything we all strive to be and he has done so with honor and distinction. We are sorry to miss him but we are happy for him and his family,” Chief Sgambellone said.

County Manager Anne Laurent said not everybody gets “whereases” written for them but for Deputy Chief Morris it was very easy to write and to see what a community member he is and how engaged he was with the community.

“That’s the big reason why we thought it was appropriate to honor him in public. His retirement was one of those that if we could have refused it, we would have. We didn’t have that option but we certainly just want to thank him for everything he’s done and what we’ve learned from him and all that he has modeled for us to aspire to,” Laurent said.

The following is the proclamation, which was read and presented by Councilor Randall Ryti:

WHEREAS, Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris was hired by the Los Alamos Police Department as an officer in 2004. He was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2010, detective sergeant in 2011, operations commander in 2015, and deputy police chief in 2022, and after a celebrated 20-year career with the Los Alamos Police Department, he has elected to retire; and

WHEREAS, early in his career, Deputy Chief Morris generously volunteered to participate in the Special Olympics New Mexico (SONM) Law Enforcement Torch Run and is currently the regional coordinator for all North Region Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the Torch Run; and

WHEREAS, in February 2024, after 20 years of dedication to the Special Olympic Athletes, Deputy Chief Morris was recognized by Special Olympics New Mexico with the annual “Flame of Hope” award, the highest honor bestowed on a New Mexico officer; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Morris served as the first full-time School Resource Officer at Los Alamos Middle School, where he promoted safety, security, and fostered improved relationships between the Police Department and students; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Morris had the distinct privilege to attend and graduate from the FBI National Academy, completing the grueling “Yellow Brick Road” fitness challenge at Quantico, Virginia, in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Morris has excelled in various positions within the Los Alamos Police Department, including being awarded Supervisor of the Year in 2014, joining the Bomb Squad, assisting with evacuations and security during the Las Conchas Fire, and implementing improved case clearance rates in the detective section, which had a significant impact on residential burglaries, larcenies, white-collar crime, and combating illegal drug activity; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Morris has been a member of the Los Alamos Rotary Club for eight years, serving as past president and completing several community and regional projects such as the PEEC Nature Center Rotary Treehouse, delivery of supplies to the Navajo Nation during COVID, and “Peace Glow” to raise money for relief efforts for the Ukrainian people; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Morris has been active in our community, serving as a board member of Los Alamos Medical Center, a food and track coach at the Los Alamos Middle School, a judge for the Los Alamos Public School’s spelling bee, and a member of the Los Alamos Public Safety Association and High Desert Church; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Morris is known for his motto, “Be a problem solver, not a report taker,” which encourages his fellow officers to listen to the community’s concerns and find solutions. Community policing has always been at the forefront of his career, and he believes that engaging with the community is the best way to maintain an effective police agency.

NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby recognize

Los Alamos Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris

We are honored and privileged that he chose to dedicate more than 20 years of service to Los Alamos County. He is a compassionate individual, an exemplary role model, and a Los Alamos community hero. We wish him all the best in his retirement.