Paul J. “Skip” Morgan

 

• Cincinnati Police Sergeant Badge S-107
• Greater Cincinnati Police Museum Docent

 

Skip was born May 3, 1937, in Whitley County, Kentucky to a coal miner, William Pascal Morgan, and Rose Mae (Hill) Morgan. By 1940, his dad moved his family to Norwood, Ohio.

Skip enlisted, on July 13, 1955, in the United States Marine Corps. He trained in the Infantry at Camp Pendleton and served in Okinawa and Japan on the 3rd Marine Division Rifle and Pistol Team, and later in a 106mm Recoilless Rifle platoon. Sergeant Morgan was honorably discharged on September 12, 1958 with Good Conduct and National Defense medals.

Skip joined the Cincinnati Police Division as a Police Recruit on May 29, 1960. His class voted him as Class President. He was promoted to Patrolman on September 11, 1960, issued Badge Number 554, and assigned to District 2 (314 Broadway). Patrolman Morgan was rotated to District 4 (7017 Vine Street) on August 28, 1961. On March 24, 1962, with 1½ years’ experience, he was named the Division’s “Police Officer of the Week.” Soon after that, he apprehended a federal fugitive, Hubert Boissannault, for which, on January 11, 1963, he received a letter of commendation from the Department of Justice.

On February 27, 1966, he was among the first men promoted to the new rank of Police Specialist, issued Badge PS-95, and assigned to the Crime Bureau in City Hall. In December 1966, Specialist Morgan arrested Posteal Laskey, Jr., the Cincinnati Strangler. During 1967, he received four commendations for separate homicide cases.

He was promoted to Sergeant on July 2, 1972, issued Badge Number S-107, and assigned to District One. Four months later, he was transferred back to the Homicide Squad. Sergeant Morgan graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy on December 11, 1975.

No one knows how many homicides and other major cases he worked on as a Specialist and Sergeant, but as a Sergeant his name appeared in newspapers as the spokesman, managing supervisor, or Acting Homicide Commander for at least 254 homicide, rape, kidnapping, extortion, and other major case and death investigations in 18 years. He was also involved in the investigations into the deaths of 13 law enforcement officers – all solved. During two of those years, 1982 and 1983, every homicide in Cincinnati was solved – a feat never accomplished before or after in Cincinnati and likely in any other major city in the country.

Sergeant Morgan retired July 7, 1990 with 33 years of service to his country and community and 44 letters of appreciation and/or commendation.

Shortly after the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum opened in 2006, four ardent Volunteers, including Sergeant Morgan, have ensured that Thursday mornings are always staffed with docents. His physical trials have been many, but until recently, the 80-year-old Marine manned his post almost every week.

 

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