By Lookout Staff

August 20, 2010 – Services for Santa Monica Police Officer Derek David Morton will be held Saturday at the Valencia Stake Center, 24443 McBane Parkway in Valencia. Morton, 34, died last Saturday after a two-year battle with colon cancer.

A resident of Valencia, Morton joined the Santa Monica force in 2002 after graduating

from the Orange County Sheriff's Academy, receiving the Communications Award.

The year before his diagnosis, Morton was promoted to the Vice and Narcotics Squad, according to Sgt. Jay Trisler, the police spokesman. Following his first surgery and the beginning of chemo, Morton. returned to work for about nine months.

During the last several years of his life, Derek donated monthly to the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, helping to provide top-quality first-aid kits for Food Pantry clients.

“He was a hardworking officer that was committed to the community and trying to help others,” Trisler said. “He was a true philanthropist. He wasn’t beating his chest talking about what he did.”

Morton was born in Ridgecrest, CA and grew up in Valencia after his family moved there in 1979. He graduated from Emblem Elementary School and Arroyo Seco Junior High School, where he was a star athlete, participating in the gymnastics team, cross-country and track. In his senior year he advanced to the league finals in the high hurdles in track.

During high school, Morton earned his Eagle Scout Award with Bronze Palm from the Boy Scouts of America. Upon graduating high school in 1993, he received an award from the Santa Clarita Valley Scholarship Association, and the Jackson Clark Award -- which was named after another student-athlete who died too young.

Morton attended Whittier College, graduating cum laude in physical education. He was named the outstanding graduate in his department and participated in intercollegiate cross-country and track, swimming and water polo. In his senior year he was a member of the Whittier water polo team which traveled to the U.S. Air Force Academy for the collegiate championships.

Morton returned to Valencia after college graduation. He taught water polo for the city of Santa Clarita; worked as a physical trainer; and was a motion-capture performer and editor at Foundation Imaging.

Morton is survived by his parents, Carol and Jim Morton of Valencia. His brother Dr. Keith Morton, his wife Annie and daughter Karina; his younger brother Tory and his sister Willow.

Derek's family wrote, "He had an extraordinarily engaging personality, and he could light up a room simply by cracking a grin. His family and friends cannot imagine life without him."

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry
c/o Belinda Crawford
24133 Railroad Avenue
Newhall, CA 91321

Officer Derek David Morton.
Photo Courtesy of SMPD