MARK MORGAN WELCOMES YOU

I have fielded many questions recently about who I am and what I stand for. I am open to answer this and any questions that anyone might have. I have always tried to support our wonderful small businesses in Maries County and always will. When you see me out in the community or at one of my campaign events, please stop by and feel free to ask me anything. I am always willing to answer any questions on here as well. I hope this long winded, hard to write bio gives some insight to who I am and what I will bring to the people of Maries County as Sheriff if elected. 
  I hold very traditional and fiscally conservative values and I intend to run on the Republican ticket for the Office of Sheriff in Maries County. I hope to earn the support and trust of the people as well as the Maries County Republican Committee. I believe in this nation and that it is indeed the greatest on Earth and that to keep it that way, the integrity of the Sheriff’s Office is crucial in today’s world. I am passionate about our liberty, upholding the Constitution, and the oaths I have taken many times swearing to do so. 
  I am a devoted career law enforcement officer and a retired Army veteran. I am committed to passionately serving Maries County and being an effective leader for the Maries County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office needs a leader who is dedicated to maintaining professional standards, upholding the Constitution, ethical work habits, and integrity in the department that I can bring. I have had numerous years in leadership roles both in the Army and law enforcement; from road supervisor to field training officer and K-9 handler. My work has resulted in lives saved, many crimes solved, and overall department and community betterment. 
   I started with that synopsis and felt it left many questions I’ve been asked unanswered so I sat back down and wrote what feels like is a novel.  
  The longer version is that I grew up in the eastern part of Tennessee in the Appalachian Mountains. I was raised by my grandparents who brought me up with old fashioned values and ways of looking at things. This foundation is what has made me the man I am. 
  I started working in security jobs when I was 17 years old. I did this at many bars, golf courses, and even a power plant and a coal mine or two. I was also campus security for Virginia Intermont College before they closed. I also worked in the corrections side of law enforcement at Lebanon Community Correction Center that provided a reintegration program for Virginia DOC offenders and that housed federal prisoners.
  I had obtained my CDL, had driven a truck over the road, and was working for All American Bottling when I felt compelled to enlist in the Army after 9/11. I still maintain my CDL license and various endorsements today. Blue collar work is what has built this country, has supported my family and many others, and is absolutely a part of who I am. 
  While on active duty in the United States Army, I had 3 combat deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. I had the opportunity to learn and train with some of the finest leaders in this nation and with the best leadership training our country has to offer. In my last 2 deployments, I led soldiers in combat zones and was responsible for approximately $20 million dollars of arms, ammunition, and equipment in the performance of my duties. 
  For my last duty station, I was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I purchased my home in Maries County in 2012. After arriving in Maries County, I fell in love with the county and the surrounding area. I knew after only being here a short time that this is my home now and that I never wanted to leave. I have a 23-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter that both graduated from Vienna High School.
  As I was looking at what I wanted to do after the Army, I chose to continue an educational path I started many years ago. I started in the Administration of Justice program at Southwest Virginia Community College and completed several classes there before my time in the Army. I then attended Liberty University part time while an active-duty soldier. After moving to Missouri, I transferred to Columbia College, also in the Criminal Justice program. I attended and graduated from Missouri Sheriff’s Academy in 2015 as the class valedictorian with the highest-grade point average of my academy class. Throughout my college education I have completed 135 credit hours, most of which are in substantive criminal justice classes. I plan to have my Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice completed with an anticipated graduation date of December of 2023.
  I began my law enforcement career as a volunteer Police Officer in Crocker, Missouri and began working part time as a Police Officer for Vienna Police Department. In 2016, I started as a reserve Sheriff Deputy with Maries County Sheriff’s Office. In 2018, upon my retirement from the Army I accepted a full-time position with the Maries County Sheriff’s Office. I progressed from Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy to Lieutenant and K9 handler over the years. I supervised numerous employees to include scheduling, performance reviews, training, and counseling to provide for personal and professional development. I reviewed reports, providing the reports and all media to the prosecutor’s office. I served as evidence custodian, Type II supervisor for breath alcohol program, sniper, planned and supervised numerous tactical search warrant executions with outside agencies. I coordinated communications and security equipment installation and operation. I also piloted the body camera program within the office. During this time, I was also awarded the Meritorious Service Award. 
  I left the Sheriff’s Office in October 2022 and began helping to rebuild the Belle Police Department where I am currently a Sergeant. While only employed by the City of Belle for a short period of time, I have worked to start a K9 Program to assist in eradicating the drug problem in our communities which has already made a substantial impact on the drug problem in Belle. I also manage day to day operations as well as performing many of the same duties I had at the Sheriff’s Office. We have truly rebuilt the department there from the ground up and I am very pleased with the support we have received and the success we have achieved.
  Additionally, I have started and maintain two small Maries County businesses. I started Just Cause Firearms around 2015 and maintain my Federal Firearms License. I am an ardent 2nd Amendment supporter. I also started my tow company, 9 Line Towing & Recovery a couple of years ago, but be assured that if elected, nothing will have priority over my commitment to the county as Sheriff. Everything about 9 Line down to the logo honors first responders and our military. I am a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, the Dixon Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association, Association of the United States Army, and the Constitutional Sheriff’s and Peace Officer Association.
  I am committed to the people of Maries County and if elected I intend to bring my real-world experience, leadership qualifications, and expertise to the Sheriff’s Office. I have always been hands on and I am not a do as I say, not as I do kind of person. I have never, nor will I ever ask anyone to do something I would not do myself. I will be a working Sheriff for the county, meaning I intend to work beside my deputies day in and out, be on the schedule just as they are, and to lead by example. 
  Again, please reach out to me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you at our future events. I intend to be at every event possible to provide everyone an opportunity to meet me in person or at least I encourage you to ask people about me that know me. I have lived my entire life on the principal of being truthful and honest whether it is good or bad. I believe that in law enforcement, our integrity must be beyond reproach. I apologize for the lengthy post but I wanted to try to answer as many questions as possible.
-Mark