Alvis P. Morris, Jr.
Agency patch
Sergeant

Alvis P. Morris, Jr.

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch November 12, 1973
Age 47
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
The Vigil Panel 112 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Alvis Morris was shot and killed while responding to a robbery. When he arrived on the scene at 4305 15th Street, he found the business owner holding two suspects at gunpoint, whom he had caught stealing a radiator out of a car. As he approached, one of the men grabbed the 62-year-old business owner and was able to gain control of the weapon. The suspect and Sergeant Morris then exchanged shots, and both were wounded. Both suspects fled the scene but were apprehended a short time later. Sergeant Morris was shot in the chest and stomach but chased the pair a half block before collapsing and succumbing to his wounds. One of the suspects, who was also an accomplice in the murder of Patrolman Robert John Ahrens, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was paroled on August 5, 1982. Sergeant Morris had served with the Detroit Police Department for 29 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his four sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-77C85553
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

23 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Morris gave the Detroit Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Morris.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Detroit, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 12, 1973
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to 15 years

Sergeant Alvis P. Morris, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 718 officers
59.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alvis P. Morris, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Alvis P. Morris, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 15 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alvis P. Morris, Jr. is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alvis P. Morris, Jr. was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location