Nov 21st, 2023
The Mobile Police Department proudly recognizes Morgan Matherne as the Civilian Employee of the Month for October 2023. Matherne serves as a public safety dispatcher in the Communications Unit. She is commended for her ability to help an officer remain calm, focused, and get him through the worst of a call.
On Monday, October 23, 2023, at approximately 1:13 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a call involving a male suspect who had barricaded himself inside a residence. The suspect was armed with a shotgun and handgun. The suspect began firing shots at the officer.
The officer was able to make it to cover and out of the suspect’s view. He stated that Matherne’s calming and soothing demeanor stood out to him. After hearing how she reacted to the situation, the officer said it made him realize that he needed to take a step back, breathe and handle the situation due to the lives of others depended on it. The suspect was taken into custody, and no one was harmed.