Board approves accidental disability retirement for firefighter Matthew S. Morris

The Surprise Fire Pension Board approved an accidental disability retirement application for firefighter Matthew S. Morris on April 29 after reviewing an independent medical examination in executive session.

A board member moved to enter executive session to review the IME and other medical records exempt from public inspection concerning Morris's application. After returning to open session the board member said the board had reviewed the IME and moved to approve the accidental disability retirement application for Matthew S. Morris and requested that the board secretary submit retirement paperwork to PSPRS for processing; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

In subsequent administrative questioning using the P5 application form, the board confirmed on the record that Morris contacted staff in November 2025 (within one year of his temporary disability application), that Morris's employment will terminate by reason of disability, that there is no record of disciplinary termination, that he was not in DROP (not applicable), that Morris is not currently employed by the city, that the injury or condition did not occur prior to PSPRS membership, and that the injury was incurred during the performance of duty. Staff said they will notify Morris and work with him to submit the necessary paperwork to PSPRS.

What happens next: The board directed the secretary/staff to submit retirement paperwork to PSPRS for processing following the accepted application.

The board recorded the procedural answers to the P5 form on the record; no individual roll-call votes were recorded in the minutes.