Photo by Bill O’Brien
Branford is losing a familiar hometown voice – Capt. Geoffrey Morgan is retiring after 32 years service with the Branford Police Department, including the last 11 years as department spokesman.
Morgan kept the public informed whether he was answering media questions at a crime scene, sending residents pre-recorded phone messages, or issuing press releases.
Being the department’s Public Information Officer (POI) was a challenging job, but it was one he enjoyed. “Certainly you have to have a passion for it,” he told the Eagle. “I like the ability to keep our community informed.”
And Branford definitely was his community, having been born and raised in the same town that his parents and grandparents called home. His father was once a part-time police officer, and his grandmother was secretary to the police chief in the 1970s.
“I always had a desire to be in public service,” Morgan said.
The 57-year-old Morgan plans to continue as an adjunct professor in the criminal justice department at the University of New Haven, and to take time to reflect on retirement. “I’m going to relax and evaluate what I’m going to do in the future,” he said.
But before he concentrates on the future, he spent time talking about his career and how policing has changed in the last 30 years. “I’m grateful for every minute that I’ve worked, and how the town has supported us and supported me and given me great opportunities,” Morgan said.
Honesty and Compassion
Morgan said the public information job was the most rewarding of his career, but there were both good times and bad.
“I’ve had some tough experiences with tragedy in people’s lives, and trying to report that to the news media, and still having dignity for the family,” Morgan said.
He said his most difficult experience as a police spokesman was when 10-year-old Ben Callahan drowned last year in the rain-swollen Branford River while he was playing with his brothers.
“To me it was reporting not only the tragedy, but there was an emotional value there,” Morgan said. “That’s always the tough thing – being able to report properly, without being overly emotional, even though you are tremendously emotional about the terrible loss, but still being honest and offering dignity to the family.”
He said it’s difficult whenever an information officer reports on incidents involving a fatal accident or a homicide.
“If you’re honest, you’ll do good in the good times and in the bad times,” Morgan said.
Changes Over Three Decades
Like many small towns, Branford police typically respond to incidents involving vehicle accidents, larceny, or vandalism rather than a preponderance of homicides or rapes.
But Morgan said there have been increases nationwide and in Branford in recent years regarding incidences of mental health, domestic violence, and addiction- and drug-related issues.
“Our officers are seeing a tremendous increase in dealing with people with mental health issues and addiction issues. And those are not simply solved by an arrest,” he said. “Arresting someone who has behavioral issues because of mental health issues is not the answer.”
Morgan said the problems are not confined to any one socio-economic group. “We have seen a terrible increase in overdoses and loss of lives through all age groups across the board … and every economic group.”
Morgan said part of the resolution relies on keeping close connections with the community through problem-oriented policing and community-based policing.
Respect – One Thing That Hasn’t Changed
Photo by Bill O’Brien
“We still have a very good connection to our community and our community supports us,” Morgan said.
He said that’s not the case nationwide where residents in some areas have lost respect for law enforcement officers because they have not been well connected to the community or have abused their power.
“I think that across America, the respect-level for police officers is not at the same level that it used to be 30 years ago. And that’s because of a multitude of reasons,” Morgan said. “I think that in general, from what I’ve seen and from my training, … law enforcement is trying to correct that and move the pendulum back to the other side to remaining transparent, using body cameras, being accountable to the public, and using the public to partner with.”
He attributes Branford’s success to a great team of officers led by a succession of top-rated chiefs, including Chief William Holohan, Chief Robert Gill, Chief John DeCarlo, and current Chief Kevin Halloran.
“There were very dedicated leaders here who never lost sight of the community,” Morgan said.
Many Hats
“I had a lot of different hats in my career,” Morgan said. He began his career in the communications field, working several years at Motorola Corp.
He joined the Branford Police Department in 1985 as a patrol officer and worked his way through the ranks, being appointed captain in 2010.
Over the years, he has served as second in command to the chief, administrative division captain, director of emergency management, captain of patrol, and community policing educator. During his tenure, he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in national security protection, both from the University of New Haven.
“My career was fortunate to have good people above me who had confidence in me, to give me opportunities, and also the town to support our mission and fund our education,” Morgan said.
In 1993, he was promoted to police sergeant, about the time the department was beginning the process of building a new station and developing a 911 center. Emergency calls had previously been answered at the fire department and forwarded to police.
Morgan, using his electronic communication experience, worked with Sgt. John DeCarlo, who eventually became chief, and the Branford Fire Department to develop the town’s first 911 center.
The new police headquarters opened in 1995. “We were the first 911 center in the state of Connecticut to dispatch using computer-aided dispatching for police, fire and emergency, medical services.” Branford has town career fire and EMS services, unlike other towns and cities that contract out some services like EMS, or who have volunteer firefighters.
“We were kind of ground-breaking at that time,” Morgan said, adding that large departments like New York City and Boston would come with Motorola representatives to see Branford’s new digital radio communication system.
Morgan and former Fire Chief Pete Mullen helped develop the town’s first emergency management response plan.
Named Public Information Officer
In 2007 Morgan was named the Public Information Officer under Chief DeCarlo.
“I think he recognized the need to have very good communications with the community and a lot of transparency,” Morgan said.
At that time, DeCarlo sent Morgan to the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia, to learn about public information and the media.
“John was very cutting-edge,” Morgan said, introducing body cameras in Branford long before they were anywhere else in the state.
File photo
Morgan with Halloran (center) and former Dep. Chief Tom Fowler in 2011 when Halloran was appointed chief.
“I really had a chance to put a thumbprint on all aspects of law enforcement,” Morgan said.
“People might miss my voice calls at 6:15 in the evening notifying them about things,” he said, adding that he doesn’t know who will be the next PIO.
“It’s been a great honor to work in the community and it’s been a great honor to serve them, and I’ll miss my job, but other people are going to step in,” he said.
Photo by Bill O’Brien
Morgan’s last official day is Friday. Which should give him and his partner Amy Hewitt more time to enjoy Branford’s jazz concerts on the green.
