The first time the shoplifter fled the NAPA Auto Parts Store in Plant City, Fred Tom “Tommy” Morris’ boss told him not to go after the thief.
Morris listened. The shoplifter, noticing the ease of carrying out his five-finger discount, later returned.
“It was the second or third time that he had hit our store,” Morris said. “I was working the front counter. We were busy and my boss wasn’t there, so I chased him down.”
Morris brought the shoplifter back to the store and contacted the police. Plant City Police Department Officer Danny Connell responded to the call.
Connell and Morris had known each other through school. When Connell said that the department was looking for officers, Morris didn’t waste time.
“Less than a month later, I went to City Hall and put in an application for the academy,” Morris said.
That was nearly three decades ago. On Friday, March 3, Master Patrol Officer Tommy Morris will retire from the Plant City Police Department after 29 years of service.
Unlike many of his fellow officers, Morris never wanted to transfer out of the department’s patrol division. During his career, he rose through the ranks from a basic patrol officer to first class, later earning his current rank of master patrol.
“I was on patrol for pretty much my entire career,” Morris said. “I was born in Texas and raised in Plant City. Before I graduated from the academy at 23, I already knew all the streets and knew numerous people in Plant City. I enjoy interacting with the people of Plant City. I try to protect and serve. I’ve just always enjoyed doing things along that line.”
“He stayed as a patrol officer,” Sgt. Al Van Duyne, the public information officer for PCPD, said. “It’s a rare breed of officer that stays in patrol for an entire career. That’s one of the most visible portions.”
In addition to his service in the patrol division, Morris also trained recruits that went through field training officer school. He estimates that he trained 28 to 30 officers over the years. From keeping the streets safe to stopping burglaries as they happened, he’s kept up a positive presence in the community he calls home.
It was almost destiny. Morris’ father, Fred Tom Morris Sr., was a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in the 1960s.
And while Morris has enjoyed every corner of service through his time as an officer, he found his true passion on two wheels.
Motorcycle Mania
Seventeen years ago, motorcycle units were introduced to the department. Morris served on the original motorcycle patrol, a position he has since maintained.
“I was already a traffic homicide investigator at that time,” he said. “That was one of the requirements.”
Though he’d only been familiar with dirt bikes in the past, Morris quickly fell in love with the feeling of being out in the open.
“I really enjoyed that,” he said. “I just like being out and visible. With motorcycles, we can also respond quickly to situations due to maneuverability.”
Morris is currently the officer that has been on patrol the longest and is the most senior officer on the force, attributes that have made his fellow officers lovingly refer to him as a ‘dinosaur.’ He keeps a dinosaur emblem on the back of his motorcycle. Each member of the unit has one that fits their personality.
“It’s a term of endearment,” Van Duyne said. “At this juncture, and even before, Tommy (Morris) is a wealth of information and knowledge. Any officer can feel comfortable going to ask him questions. He knows everybody in Plant City. As a police officer, he takes pride in his city and where he works.”
After he retires on March 3, Morris will be the primary caretaker for his mother. He plans on maintaining his close relationships with his fellow officers by taking fishing trips with them. In his free time, he plans to hunt and spend time with his wife, Crystal, and son, Fred Tom Morris III.
“I love fishing and hunting,” he said. “When I retire, we’re taking a trip to Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. Me, my wife and my son, we love the outdoors. I’ve belonged to a hunting club for the last 13 years. If I ever have to get another career, my intention is to work for Bass Pro (Shops).”
For Morris, service goes beyond the badge.
“Being a police officer is not just a job, it’s a career choice,” he said. “You have to have the heart for it and the desire to take on this role. We’re here to help. I’ve learned that you can never take life for granted. You have to have the heart and soul for this kind of work.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.