Officer Morris was one of several instructors teaching emergency driving techniques to recruits attending the Roanoke County's police academy. During one of the exercises, on October 7, 2008, Officer Morris was riding in the front passenger seat of a police car being driven by a recruit. As the exercise proceeded, the police car left the roadway and landed upside down in a shallow pond where it began to quickly sink. Officer Morris was able to get out of her restraining harness and get free of the vehicle. The recruit officer was unable to get free and was still in the car. When Officer Morris realized the recruit was not following her, she returned to the car. At first, from outside of the car, Officer Morris was able to reach in and hold the recruit's head above water as the recruit tried unsuccessfully to free herself. But, as the car continued to sink, within a few seconds, the recruit's head was submerged. At this point, Officer Morris re-entered the sunken car and was able to free the recruit officer and begin pulling her out. By this time, other instructors and recruits had arrived and helped remove the recruit from the pond. Without doubt, Officer Morris's unhesitant life-saving actions prevented a tragic ending to this incident. For her actions that day, Officer Morris received the Police Department's Life Saving Award and Meritorious Service Awards.