By Graham Sweeney
Over the course of the past week, officers from the Collierville Police Department have been in Washington, D.C. with the friends, family and coworkers of fallen officers from across the country for National Police Week 2022.
For local officers, this year hit a little harder because of Officer Edgar Morris, who was among those being added to the national memorial. This was a first for CPD.
Morris died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Officer Morris served with the Collierville Police Department for 16 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
With events like this, it would be easy to see nothing more than sadness and loss. The event is far more than that though, it’s fellowship, remembrance and gratitude.
The family of Morris attended a conference during Police Week, hosted by Concerns of Police Survivors.
This conference provides surviving family members and co-workers the opportunity to find support and understanding from other survivors, talk with mental health professionals, and attend seminar sessions that will help them address their grief. Conference attendees leave National Police Week with a greater understanding of the grief process and the support available through C.O.P.S.
Along with the conference, Morris’ name was inscribed on a wall with 618 other law enforcement officers from across the U.S. His family also attended the Candlelight Vigil as well as the Law Enforcement Memorial and several other events to celebrate the lives of the fallen.
Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country began to contract COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Due to the nature of their job, law enforcement officers were required to work and interact with the community even as the majority of the country was self-quarantined. As a result, hundreds of officers died from COVID-related illnesses and other complications.
