Veteran Monroe prison guard dies of COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak at the Monroe Correctional Complex has claimed the life of a guard.

The state Department of Corrections said Monday evening that Correctional Officer Berisford Morse, 65, died Sunday from complications of COVID-19. He is the first staff member to die from the virus.

“It is a tragedy to lose a member of our public safety community and correctional family,” state Secretary of Corrections Stephen Sinclair said in a written statement. ”Our hearts go out to Officer Morse’s grieving family and the sacrifice they have made.”

Morse worked in the Minimum Security Unit of the Monroe Correctional Complex that has had 18 inmates and nine staff members test positive for COVID-19.

DOC said Morse last worked at the Minimum Security Unit on April 24. That evening, Morse contacted the shift commander to report he had symptoms of COVID-19, was going to seek medical attention and get tested. The Monroe Correctional Complex was notified on April 27 that Morse had tested positive for COVID-19.

Morse had worked for the prison system since October 2003. He was a community corrections officer for seven months in 2013 and the remainder of his tenure was as a correctional officer at the Monroe Correctional Complex.

DOC is honoring Morse’s death as a line-of-duty death and will consult with the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial-Behind the Badge Foundation and the Department of Labor & Industries.

Gov. Jay Inslee opened his press conference on Tuesday by honoring the life of Morse, who lived in Renton.

“We wish his wife, Mary, and their family all the peace we can send to that family right now. This was a person who professionally was committed to the safety of the state of Washington. We appreciate his life and work,” the governor said.

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 8:45 PM.