Lake Windward Elementary
December 3rd, 2024
I wanted to introduce myself so that I can become a familiar presence on your campus. My name is Officer Morton and I work for the Alpharetta Police Department. I have been with the department since May of 2023 and have recently made a transition from patrol to our Community Services Unit (CSU). A bit about me personally…
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California – the San Fernando Valley to be more specific! I grew up playing sports and in high school I played volleyball, softball, and ran track. I then went off to college in Santa Barbara, California! There I played indoor and beach volleyball for Santa Barbara City College and then transferred to the University of California Santa Barbara, where I joined the rowing team. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Sports Management. Throughout college, during various breaks, I travelled quite a bit; as of today, I have been to 15 countries. One of those countries being Australia, where I lived for almost a year after college. After returning from Australia, I began my search for a gratifying career path. Through some trials and tribulations, seeking advice from great mentors, and some self-reflection, I landed on the idea of becoming a police officer. So, I began my journey in applying with the Los Angeles Police Department.
I was with the LAPD for four years before moving to Georgia where I discovered an awesome agency – the Alpharetta Police Department. I was excited to continue my career in this beautiful place with lots of community support.
As this next chapter in my career unfolds, I am thrilled to be a part of the Community Services Unit.
My role in CSU is to partner with and maintain healthy working relationships with the schools in Alpharetta – my primary focus being the elementary schools. These efforts require cooperation and collaboration from not only the school itself, but also Fulton County School District and Fulton County School Police.
My relationship with the school system began at Creek View Elementary during the 2023-2024 school year as a patrol officer. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of two determined moms, the guidance of the Principal and Assistant Principals, and the support of Alpharetta PD Command Staff, we have been able to facilitate a multi-faceted safety and security program with a few goals in mind:
1) A tailored approach to safety and security ensuring that each school has specialized plans and infrastructure in the event of a critical incident.
2) “Humanizing the badge” – helping children build a positive outlook of police by providing an opportunity to have personal interactions with officers; in turn, showing them that police are approachable and are there to help.
3) Educating students in the realm of police work: answering questions about what officers do, the gear they use, Georgia law, the structure and culture of policing, participating in events like “Career Days,” etc.
I was proud to be selected by the Alpharetta Police Department Command Staff for this undertaking, and it has been a pleasure working with the schools in our community. Although, we have faced some challenges along the way, we are continually striving to achieve these overarching goals. However, there is still more work to be done! I look forward to assisting and evolving with the schools as time goes on, so please don’t be alarmed when you see me – come say hello!
