Department of Corrections officer dead from COVID-19

TUMWATER, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) confirmed Monday night that a Correctional Officer from Monroe Correctional Complex has died from complications related to coronavirus.

Officer Berisford Anthony Morse, 65, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2020.

“It is a tragedy to lose a member of our public safety community and correctional family,” said Stephen Sinclair, Secretary of Corrections. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Correctional Officer Berisford Morse due to COVID-19. Our hearts go out to Officer Morse’s grieving family and the sacrifice they have made.”

Morse had worked for the DOC since October 2003, as a correctional officer at Monroe Correctional Complex and as a non-permanent community corrections officer for seven months in 2013.

Officer Morse worked in the Minimum Security Unit (MSU) of the Monroe Correctional Complex. The MSU has had 14 positive cases of COVID-19 in the incarcerated population.

Officer Morse last worked at the facility on the morning of April 24. Mr. Morse contacted the shift commander on the evening of April 24 to report he had symptoms of COVID-19, was going to seek medical attention and get tested.  The facility was notified on April 27 that Morse had tested positive for COVID-19.

Corrections officials say the agency conducted contact tracing and notified any individuals who were determined to be close contacts. On April 12, Officer Morse was identified as part of contact tracing for a COVID-19 positive incarcerated male at the Minimum Security Unit.