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Submitted: 3/10/11 • Approved: 11/3/14 • Last Updated: 11/6/14 • R482659-G0-S3
August 9, 1961 - June 12, 2009
*Obituary
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Sunday, June 14, 2009
SPRINGDALE — Laneta Carol "Laney" Morriss, 47, of Springdale died June 12, 2009 at Circle of Life Hospice is Springdale. She was born Aug. 9, 1961, in Springdale to Janette C. and James L. Morriss Jr.
She graduated from Springdale High School in 1979 and played in the Bulldog Band for three years. She attended the University of Arkansas and NorthWest Arkansas Community College. She was a member of Springdale Christian Church.
She joined the Springdale Police Department as a radio operator in May 1984 and was certified as a patrol officer on Nov. 1, 1984. During her 25-year career at the police department she was a detective and served four years on the 4th Judicial Drug Task Force.
She was promoted to sergeant in 1997 and in 2001 became the first woman promoted to lieutenant in the Springdale Police Department. She attended the FBI National Academy in 2002 and in 2004 became the first woman promoted to captain. She was assigned as division commander of the criminal investigation division in 2006.
She earned more than 2,200 training hours and received a senior law enforcement certificate. She was a certified law enforcement instructor, firearms instructor, team leader for the hostage negotiation team and served on the Northwest Arkansas Crisis Center critical incident debriefing team. She was recognized 23 times for her service to the department and the community.
Laney served on the Board of Directors for the Crisis Center from 2002-2007. During that time, she was the vice president in 2004-2005 and served as president in 2005-2006. She also acted as the liaison between the Springdale Police Department and the Crisis Center.
She was a 2008 graduate of Arkansas Leader and previously completed Leadership Springdale.
Survivors include her mother, Jan C. Morriss of Fayetteville; her father, Jim Morriss of Fayetteville; one brother, James L. "Trey" Morriss III of Maumelle, his wife, Melody, and children Adam, Matthew and Hannah; one sister, Shana Clark of Springdale, her husband, Anthony, and children, Dakota Downum and Peyton Downum; her grandmother, Mrs. "Jo" Condra of Springdale; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services are pending with Sisco Chapel of Springdale.
Private burial will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.
Pallbearers will be Mike Peters, Richard Farris, Robert Sanchez, Lester Coger, Mark Smith and Lee Andreadis.
Honor guards from the Springdale and Fayetteville Police Departments will participate in all ceremonies.
Memorials may be made to the Northwest Arkansas Crisis Center, 614 E. Emma Ave., Suite 213, Springdale, AR 72764.
Contributed on 3/10/11 by judyfrog
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Record #: 482659