Elected officials working to help local fire chief being held in Thailand

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Elected officials are working to help a local fire chief who is being held in Thailand, writing in support of his good character, service to the community and requesting that he have a fair and speedy trial.

Michael Morra is the fire chief at the Hanover Fire Department in Burgettstown, where his family said he has been serving the community for 30 years.

Morra is being held in Thailand after being arrested at the Bangkok Airport on Nov. 23 after a single bullet was found in his luggage. He was there doing work for his employer General Electric. He is now safe in a Thai hotel after his family said he spent time in a prison with unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

Channel 11′s Cara Sapida spoke to Morra’s son on the phone today and said:

“My family is very grateful for the support of all of these elected officials. My dad dedicated his life to community service in our area. It’s very heart warming that the legislature is reaching out and helping. My mother and I appreciate family, friends and the public’s support for the Go Fund Me page and general support they’ve given us. My dad’s trial date is set for mid February. We are working with our attorneys and hoping to expedite that process.”

Click here to visit the GoFundMe account set up by Morra’s family to help cover extensive legal expenses.

The letters sent to the U.S. Embassy in Thailand urging officials to give full and fair consideration to his case are from elected officials Guy Reschenthaler, Joshua Kail, Bud Cook, Natalie Mihalek, Tim Oneal, Jason Oritay, Michael Puskaric and Pam Snyder.

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