Police Chief Receives Leadership Award from Chamber of Commerce

Hampton Police Chief Mark Morrison has been named the recipient of the Leadership Award by the Promotions Committee for the Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce Annual Appreciation Celebration.

City Councilor Jerre Grefe — who serves on the Promotions Committee — made the announcement during her report at the end of the city council meeting last night.

After the meeting, she told the Chronicle that Morrison was selected for a number of reasons, including his integrity, courage, respect and compassion while serving the community.

Morrison has been with the Hampton Police Department since 2002, serving as the Chief since September 2022. He worked as an EMT with the Franklin General Hospital Ambulance Service for 25 years before that. He is currently serving his second term as Vice President for the Hampton-Dumont Board of Education and is an active member of his church, recently participating in several mission trips to Haiti. Morrison has served on a number of other boards in the community, including at La Luz Centro Cultural.

One community member told the Promotions Committee that Morrison is “a friend and confidant to many,” while another said he serves “as a voice for the voiceless.”

When asked what this award meant to him, Morrison called it “a great honor.” 

“I am grateful for the recognition and support from the Greater Franklin County Chamber and community,” he said. “This honor encourages me to continue to strive to uphold my oath of office and to continually seek ways to improve and lead with integrity. I have been blessed to be surrounded by good colleagues who inspire me to do better. We have a great Police Department here in Hampton, Iowa of which I am very proud to be a part of.”  

Morrison added that he’s proud of the work they put into solving their criminal cases and investigations, also saying he feels like they collaborate well with members of the community. One project he is particularly proud of: the police citizens academy, which they started last year. The police department is currently holding their second academy. They held their first one last summer. 

His favorite part of the job? The different challenges that every day brings, he said. 

“Our goals are to reduce and prevent crime, promote a safe and secure community and to uphold the law,” he said. 

Morrison moved to Hampton with his family in 1999, before graduating from Hampton-Dumont Community Schools the following year. He turns 44 years old on Thursday, March 6.