Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in Peace. Thank you for all your years of brave and dedicated service.

Scott G.
Saskatchewan, CANADA

Scott G.

August 10, 2005

Cotton,
I felt sick when I heard the news reports of your murder. I have done my share of transports and this type of thing is always in my mind. I will pray for you and your family. Please know that you will never be forgotten. See you one day brother.

R.M. Taylor
Federal Prison Terminal Prison

August 10, 2005

I knew CO Morgan from seeing him in court when he would transport prisoners. My heart breaks for his family, friends, and co-workers. He was a quiet man who always had a smile for me. I will miss him every time I walk into the courtroom.

Probation/Parole Officer
TN Board of Probation and Parole

August 10, 2005

Rest in peace brother, you will not be forgotten.

Officer Shaun McCready
Greenfield Township (PA) Police Department

August 10, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
To you and all your co-workers......
Thank You .....God bless and keep you safe.....

John and Sharon(Armes)daughter of Carlie Armes...

Detective Nosal and family
Joliet Police Dept. Illinois

August 10, 2005

My old friend "Cotton", you will be greatly missed. I feel it a pleasure to have met you and trained with you. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends.

Sergeant Clay Newman
Halls Police Department

August 10, 2005

"COTTON" WAS A VERY WONDERFUL CRISTIAN PERSON AND WILL BE SADLY MISSED BY EVERYONE.HE WAS A TRUE INSPIRATION TO ALL HE WORKED WITH.I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU COTTON.
ROY

CO-1 ROY SEXTON
TENN. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS

August 10, 2005

Although I never met Officer Morgan, I used to work with his son, Dennis, who was also a good friend. Knowing the kindness and gentleness of Dennis, it speaks volumes of Officer Morgan as a father. Thank you, Cotton, for serving our society. My wife and I will be praying for the entire family.

David Bishop

August 10, 2005

My prayers are with the family, friends and brothers & sisters in blue. Nothing prepares you for something like this. Lives are now changed...Pain is so deep...Questions are unanswered. May the strength, comfort and love of God see you through this nightmare.

May God bless you and hold you in His loving care.

Becky Bates
Mother of Officer Julie Jacks EOW 5/6/02

August 10, 2005

At the beginning of every shift I supervise, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer.

Today, August 10, 2005 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Correctional Officer Wayne (Cotton) Morgan who died in the line of duty just yesterday.

When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.

Officer Morgan's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC

August 10, 2005

To the family and co workers of Officer Morgan, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Officer Morgan's dedication to the citizens of the State of Tennessee over the past 28 years and his service in Vietnam is greatly appreciated by all of us. If we can be of any assistance, please let us know. God bless.

TODD SHAVER
UNIV.OF TN POLICE DEPT KNOXVILLE

August 10, 2005

Your many years of service are are commendable. Your dedication was unwavering. Rest in peace for we have the watch now.

Offc. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

August 10, 2005

Officer Morgan,

I know my PaPa Paul has greeted you with an immeasurable magnitude of respect in a place free from fear and void of hatred.

May God Bless your soul and your family, and may the memories of their short time with you in this life wrap around them like a warm blanket--sooner rather than later.

In Gratitude,
Leah Cameli & Family
(Granddaughter of the late Paul Waldrop, Brushy Mountain State Prison, retired)
Chicago, IL

Mrs. L. Cameli

August 10, 2005

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, Have you read the spec on this order? A Peace Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn’t touch, and not wrinkle their uniform.

They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have to have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands….No Way.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.”

That’s on the standard model? asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on civil service paycheck.”

The angel circled the model of the Peace Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with crime scenes painted in HELL, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim’s family’ and then read in the daily paper how Law Enforcement isn’t sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Peace Officer. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

“What’s the tear for?” asked the angel.

“It’s for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

August 10, 2005

As I read these pages and all of the loving things that people from all over the U.S. have to say, I sit here crying, knowing that people care so much. I am truely touched. It is a sad day when an officer goes down. Gone, but not forgotten. I know that all men and women who put themselves in harms way for us are TRUELY a band of brothers. Closer than kin. A bond that cannot be broken. They have a love in their hearts that words cannot describe. To the family of officer Morgan, my heart cries out for you. I did not know him, but the Lord does. He sees all things and knows all things. The guilty will stand before him in judgement one day. They will have to answer to him for what they did. I just pray that they will stand before an earthly judge soon and do not get the chance to harm anyone else. May peace be with you Officer Morgan and may the Lord send angels of comfort to your family.

Morgan County citizen

August 10, 2005

Thank you for a job well done...You have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I will pray for your family in this time of need. Your brothers & sisters of law enforcement will take your watch for you now....rest in peace. God Speed.

Leo Wife
Georgia

August 10, 2005

After learning of this tragic, senseless murder, I came to realize we are all vunerable. May your family get through this heartache and my prayers are with you all. Wayne "Cotton" Morgan, you will be missed by everyone in the law enforcement world.

Cpl. Joseph Gower Mills
TDOC Riverbend Maximum Security Institution

August 10, 2005

Officer Morgan was a friend and brother for over ten years that I have been with TDOC, and as a fellow Vietnam Vet I will miss him.
I ask that everyone pray for his family and those of us at BMSP.

Corporal Paul Vaughn
Brushy Mountain State Prison, Lodge #86

August 10, 2005

Officer Morgan,
It hurts us all in the law enforcement community to hear the tragic news of one of our brothers being lost in the line of duty. Although I did not personally know you, I morn dearly for your family. I would like to thank you for your service and hard work. Rest assured, we will catch the disgraceful people who did this. Please look down on all of us from above as we carry on the the ever so dangerous job of law enforcement. We will take it from here brother. Even though you are now 10-7, none of us will ever forget you or the price you payed for us all on August 9, 2005. May you rest in peace.
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
You are a son of God officer Morgan and you were an excellent peacemaker.

CSO Oklahoma DOC

Correctional Officer
Oklahoma Department of Corrections

August 10, 2005

Brother, your sacrafice will never be forgoten. Rest easy.

Ofc Michael Wilhelm
The George Washington University Police Dept

August 10, 2005

First of all I want to send my prayers out for Officer Morgan and his family. I hate to see anyone lose a life but somehow it is different when it is in your department. It makes you realize how dangerous our job can be. I have been with the department for four years, my brother for five, and my dad for twenty two. Even though I did not know Officer Morgan personally, it is like losing on of your own. Once again my thoughts and prayers go out to all his family, friends, and co-workers.

Officer Kristopher Phillips
TDOC

August 10, 2005

Rest in peace brother. Your watch is now over. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and co-workers at the TN Department of Corrections

Deputy Jailer
BCDC--KY

August 10, 2005

YOU CAN REST IN PEACE NOW BROTHER. BUT WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL YOUR KILLER(S) ARE CAPTURED!

Officer (Former C.O.)
SPPD Martin County FL.

August 10, 2005

I heard this horrible story on the news today and hoped Officer Morgan would make it. I am deeply saddened and sorry for the loss. My most heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife, children, and friends. I know firsthand how awful it is to lose a loved one and wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. God be with you all in your time of need. God Bless you Officer Morgan. Rest in peace.

L. Ambrose
Wife of Burbank Police Officer (CA)

August 10, 2005

Thank you for your service to our country and state. I think I meet you once we were both gassing up our transport vans at the Rocktop Shell in Harriman My condolences to the family. And condolence to BMCF staff. CO Morgan God must have needed some help up-there. And I hope when these POS are found, they go back to TDOC. And not a contractor! Peace Brother.

TDCS Transport Officer
Jeff

Transportion Cpl. Jeff
TN. Dept. Children Services

August 10, 2005