By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
His family life, said his son James, of West Hempstead, was "a very important part of his life."
Joseph Morrison died suddenly of a heart attack on Wednesday, April 2 at the Long Beach Medical Center. He was 62.
Born and raised in Long Beach and a graduate of Long Beach High School, Mr. Morrison joined the Long Beach Police Department in 1963 as a patrolman. Working his way through the ranks, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1982, then to commanding officer as a detective lieutenant in the detective division in 1985. A few years later, Mr. Morrison was again promoted, this time to deputy inspector. He retired from the police force in 1991.
"He was a great guy," Det. Georgene League said. "He was a wonderful cop. He was very, very sharp. Everybody loved Joe. He was one of the best we ever had." League said Mr. Morrison was her first mentor in the detective division, and that he was responsible for her being there. They worked together for six years.
"I learned so much from him," she said. "He was such a bright man. He really believed in my abilities. He was really one of the finest cops this department has ever seen."
Mr. Morrison won numerous awards, including two citations, from the department. "Although Inspector Morrison was long retired when I came to the Long Beach Police Department, he was so gracious and warm towards me in wishing me good luck as the new commissioner," Police Commissioner John Laffey said. "I'll never forget him for it. He was really a great gentleman and the loss is felt by all of us."
During the 1960s, Mr. Morrison was an active member of the Police Benevolent Association. He also coached youth roller hockey in the '70s, and he was active in the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Island Park.
In 1961, Mr. Morrison married Carol Morrison. "They met when they were teenagers," their son James said. "They spent their lives together." The couple, he said, was as close as a couple could be.
"They were each other's best friends, and they frequently said they were the center of each other's universe," said James. "They were always together and they were always thinking about each other."
The couple moved to Island Park in 1966, and spent time traveling to anywhere within driving distance, their son said. Besides devoting to his family, Mr. Morrison also loved to garden.
"He was really loved by his whole family. Hundreds of people turned out at his wake," his son said. "He was really admired by his friends and co-workers."
Besides his wife and son James, Mr. Morrison is survived by a son, John, of Island Park; two daughters, Julie Mulkeen of Oceanside and Jeanne McCallig of Island Park, and seven grandchildren.
A funeral service was held at Macken Mortuary in Island Park on Friday, April 4, followed by burial at the Interment Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury.
