Deputy Chief of Operations
J. Alfred Morrissette
Deputy Chief J. Alfred Morrissette was born and raised in Fall River. He attended St. Anne’s Grammar School
and graduated from Prevost High School, currently known as Bishop Connolly High School, in 1972. He earned an
Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Bristol Community College, graduating in 1974 and receiving the
Career Award which is given to the student judged most likely to succeed in his or her chosen field.
He went on to major in Criminal Justice, first at Salve Regina College and later at Roger Williams University.
He graduated from Roger Williams in 1997 with a Baccalaureate in Criminal Justice. In June of 2000, Deputy
Morrissette received his Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice from Western New England College.
Deputy Morrissette began his career in law enforcement in 1974 as a Community Service Officer, an adjunct unit
of the Fall River Police Department. CSO’s patrolled the housing projects, having Constable powers of arrest.
As a CSO, Deputy Morrissette received three commendations. In April of 1978 he was appointed to the Fall River
Police Department as a police officer. He attended the local police academy for a 12-week training program and
was then assigned to patrol duties in the Uniform Division, B Watch. As a police officer, Deputy Morrissette
earned three more commendations.
In July 1983, Deputy Morrissette was assigned to the Major Crimes Division as a detective. While assigned to
Major Crimes, he investigated several serious crimes, including homicide, and earned two more commendations.
In October 1984, Deputy Morrissette was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was assigned to the Uniform Division
as a patrol supervisor and was responsible for providing direction and control to the patrol officers working the
sector cars. He received three commendations during this period.
In April of 1989, Sergeant Morrissette was transferred to the Major Crimes Division where he was responsible
for the supervision and case direction of detectives working in the Major Crimes Division.
On November 1, 1989, Sergeant Morrissette was promoted to lieutenant. As a lieutenant, he was assigned to
Staff Services Division on the day watch. He developed the Department’s protocol for alternatives to
incarcerating juveniles. From April of 1990 till October of 1990, he was assigned nights in Staff Services,
which encompasses the booking room, jail and property, communications and the record room. In October of 1990,
he was assigned to the Major Crimes Division as a detective lieutenant. In this position he was responsible for
the day-to-day assigning of cases, case direction, report review, crime scene control for homicides, suicides,
suspicious deaths and other major crimes.
In October of 1994, Lieutenant Morrissette was promoted to captain. He was assigned to the Uniform Division
and responsible for the two night watches. He worked in conjunction with the day Captain in administering the
Division until September 1997 when he was given command of the Uniform Division. In December of 2000, Deputy
Morrissette was assigned as the commander of the Major Crimes Division were he was responsible for directing the
investigation of serious crimes in the city, including, homicide, suspicious deaths, rape, robbery, breaking and
entering, arson, larceny and other special assignments as designated by the Chief of Police.
In May 2001, Captain Morrissette was promoted to Temporary Deputy Chief. A short time later, in July 2001, he
was promoted to permanent Deputy Chief. He was assigned as Deputy Chief of Operations and is currently responsible
for the line operations of the Department. Line operations consist of the major divisions of the Department
providing direct services to the public. These divisions include the Uniform Division, the Major Crimes Division,
the Community Policing Unit, and Vice and Intelligence.
Deputy Chief Morrissette would like to leave you with these thoughts on policing:
"Though I have developed a tremendous amount of experience since my career began in 1974, I have a certain
motto I’d like to profess in closing: 'You learn something new everyday' in this complex world of managing and
supervising people in the law enforcement profession who are constantly on the front lines protecting the public.
Police officers have a unique power to alter someone’s life forever, by instituting them into the criminal
justice process by simply announcing, 'your under arrest'. It’s that power and responsibility that cannot be
taken lightly, that holds police to a higher standard of conduct than other professions, thereby you are forced
to constantly learn from your vast experiences in police work."
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