In high school, April Morse was always looking for ways to serve the community, ways she could give back and make a difference. She considered going into emergency medicine and spent time working as a wildland firefighter.

As she got more experience, she realized police officers always showed up to make things safe for the firefighters and she changed the direction of her career. At 21, Morse was hired by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office and she’s been policing ever since.  

Morse was selected to be the new chief of the UPD Midvale Precinct and her position was ratified by the Midvale City Council in September. 

“I love Midvale,” Morse said. “I’ve always loved Midvale. I love the diversity of Midvale, I love the people in Midvale. I have a lot of family that are actually residents of Midvale. So, it’s nice to feel connected to the community in that way.”

Her previous experience includes working with DEA Metro Narcotics, the violent crimes division, internal affairs and serving on Utah Task Force One, working with dogs trained in search and rescue, drug detection and finding human remains. 

Morse takes over for the former Midvale Chief Randy Thomas who retired in October. She wants to continue his legacy that includes a proactive approach to community policing while making the mental health of officers a top priority.

“I’ve got a master’s in social work and I have a passion for officer mental health and taking care of our first responders,” she said. “So I can create an environment where officers feel supported, where they feel like they have that work-life balance, where they have the tools to be able to handle the stress that comes their way. We’re going to send out a healthier, more well-balanced officer who will perform better for the community.”

Morse said while most people will experience one or two major traumatic events during their lives, police officers often deal with nearly 200 trauma events during their careers. By addressing the mental and physical dangers inherent in policing, Morse believes officers will be more prepared to handle the range of emotions that come with the job. 

“Chief Morse’s extensive background and leadership in law enforcement make her a great fit for Midvale,” said Midvale City Manager Matt Dahl. “Her experience and vision will be valuable assets as we continue to build a safe and welcoming community.”

Born and raised in Utah, Morse has worked in a variety of departments during her 27 years of police service. She lives with her wife Misty who Morse describes as, “Way more cool than I am.” They’ve been married for 16 years and have two dogs and a couple of lizards. Morse is an avid reader (and a Stephen King fan) and offers counseling to first responders in her spare time. 

She is excited to serve the Midvale community and wants to have an open dialogue where she can hear ideas for improvement. 

“I’m open to any ideas. Great ideas can come from the most unexpected places,” Morse said. “I want to be what the community needs me to be…I want people to feel safe. I want them to feel supported by their police department. I want them to feel confident in their police department, to trust them. I consider myself a service leader, so any way I can support that is what I’m game for. Anything I can do to show that we are here to serve.”