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It’s not every day that a third-generation Fair Havenite gets sworn into neighboring Rumson’s police department and proposes to his fiancé in Sea Bright. No, just Tuesday.

Yes, in the wake of a freakish storm, power outages and the break of a heatwave, Don Morse, flanked by family and his soon-to-be betrothed, became a Rumson police officer. Morse comes to Rumson police from the Sea Bright Police Department. He was also a dispatcher Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II in Rumson from 2014 until his swearing in as a patrolman on Tuesday night.

He grew up in Fair Haven, the son of Donald and Linda Morse. Fair Haven is where his mom, Linda Leslie Morse, also grew up. Grandmother Barbara Leslie, Linda’s mom and former guitar teacher, leader of the Fair Haven Folk Singers and owner of the iconic Whistle Stop, was there to cheer on her grandson as well.

After the swearing in, the Morse crew headed over to Tommy’s Tavern & Tap, over the bridge in Sea Bright, where Don proposed, riverside, to his girlfriend Erica Cartagena. Oh, she did say “Yes!”

Oh, what a night, right? Congratulations to Don and Erica, the Leslies, Morses and Cartagenas!

Thanks to Linda Leslie Morse and Rumson PD for the photos!