Det. Michael Morales passed away on June 10, 2009, just one month short of his 62nd birthday, from small cell lung cancer attributed to his service working on the rescue and recovery, and clean-up efforts related to the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001. Morales was born in Manhattan in 1946. He was awarded a Purple Heart while serving in the United Stated Army during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged in 1968, he returned to New York and married his high school sweetheart, Silvia. They moved to Staten Island where Morales worked as a USDA meat inspector until his appointment to the NYPD came through in July of 1973. Morales was laid off briefly in 1972 during the City’s fiscal crisis. He was hired back a few weeks later, in 1976, he was transferred to Patrol Borough Manhattan South as Community Affairs Officer. In 1981, he was transferred to the 67 Precinct in Flatbush, Brooklyn as a white shield in the Detective Squad. In 1986, he was transferred to the Staten Island Crimes Against Persons Squad and promoted to Detective in March of 1987. He earned second grade in August of 1992 and retired in January of
