Deputy Chief Andy Jackson said Morgan, who retires at the rank of captain, was always direct and didn't pull punches. “It's been a pleasure working with Ozzie. What he can teach you is street survival. His skills are very strong. He's very smart and he always knew how to the work the streets.”

Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp told Morgan, “We wish you well. It's been fun. We've worked together a long time.”

Retired police chief and former Roanoke Rapids Mayor D.N. Beale said, “We've worked together a long time. He brought down one of the biggest drug dealers in this town. I told him to dot every I and cross every T and it worked. I hope you enjoy retirement as much as I'm enjoying mine. The city is a great place to work.”

Lieutenant Andy Bryant said Morgan was his training officer and from the start they almost followed lockstep in their careers. “It's been a pleasure. I've enjoyed every minute of it.”

Morgan told family, friends and co-workers at the retirement party at city hall, “Working with the guys, the guys have become like family around here. It's like a family the way we looked out for each other.”

Morgan said afterward he was touched by the show of people who came to help him celebrate his retirement.

“The biggest thing is the closeness of everybody,” he said. “Everybody steps up like Christmas for Kids, like the time (Jim) Meyer and I walked from Roanoke Rapids to Washington, D.C., and back. The police department supported us in that.”

For retirement, Morgan, a 30-year veteran of the police force, said his immediate plans are to take it easy and perhaps do some plumbing work, but not to the extent he once did. “They gave me that Ping driver. I might utilize that a little bit.”

In one way it was a bittersweet day for the longtime officer. “It's all I've known for the last 30 years but I know I've got a bunch of friends who came out here to support me.”