As National EMS week begins, and National Police Week winds up – we want to take a moment to recognize all of those individuals for their brave, hardworking and heroic actions throughout our community.

National Police Week offers honor, remembrance, and peer support – while allowing law enforcement, survivors and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.  In Alabama, there were 19 line of duty deaths in 2021/22.  Our area has been hit very hard; of those 19, two were from Cherokee County.  Sgt/Investigator Chris Vaughn of the Cedar Bluff Police Department – and Cpl. Keith Morgan with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Town of Cedar Bluff is mourning the loss of a Police Department Investigator after he suffered medical complications on Friday morning.

The following statement was released from Cedar Bluff Mayor Tammy Crane and the  Police Chief Brody Moses:

“It is with great sadness that Mayor Crane, The Town of Cedar Bluff, and Cedar Bluff Police Department must announce the passing of Sgt. Christopher Michael Vaughn. Sgt. Vaughn passed away after medical complications while on duty on April 1, 2022. Sgt. Vaughn began his law enforcement career with Leesburg Police Department in 2009 and served with Cedar Bluff Police Department since 2015.  The hard work and dedication of Sgt. Vaughn will be greatly missed by his fellow officers and residents of Cedar Bluff.  Sgt. Vaughn worked tirelessly to serve the residents of Cedar Bluff; he was an excellent example of a law enforcement professional and highly respected by all other law enforcement in the area.”

Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver has confirmed that Corporal Keith Morgan has died from complications of COVID.  Morgan died on Wednesday morning. 

Sheriff Shaver told WEIS Radio News “We are deeply saddened at the loss of Keith. He was a dedicated deputy and a very hard worker. Keith spent most of his time on and off duty serving the people.”  Corporal Morgan had been with the sheriff’s office since 2009 – and was a firefighter with the Sand Rock Fire Department.  He was 49 years old. 

We want to thank all the men and women in Cherokee County who put on a badge and work to protect our citizens.  This includes officers with the Centre, Cedar Bluff and Leesburg Police Departments, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Department of Conservation and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

This week marks the 47th annual National EMS Week; National EMS week honors the contributions of those who work on the medical front line.  This week gives Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – and all those who would like to credit them a chance to recognize their hard work in delivering lifesaving emergency medical care around the clock

We’d like to recognize Floyd EMS and Piedmont EMS, for all their work to quickly and efficiently save lives in our community.

(Cherokee County, AL Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security)