Greg Armstrong

Greg Armstrong is doing what he loves–exploring the great outdoors of southern Oregon, a job to sink his teeth into, and spending time with his lovely wife Ruthie. Greg retired from Newport Beach P.D. on June 12th, 2001. He had a career totaling 30 years. He says it feels like a long time ago, especially when he reads the meeting minutes, sees photographs and biographies.

The current supervisory staff at the P.D. is a whole new ‘group of youngsters’, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Greg was born in downtown Los Angeles, raised in Westchester near the airport, as well as the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and attended Palos Verdes High School. He is a member of the 1st graduating class. Greg’s dad became disabled with multiple sclerosis directly after Greg finished high school in 1965. He was a draftsman in the aerospace industry. After the death of his father, his mom became successful in real estate, which was still a pioneering field for women. She has also passed. Greg had two siblings, a brother and a sister. His sister passed away October 2008. His brother resides in Capistrano Beach. He attended Long Beach State and graduated in 1969 with a B.S. degree in criminology. Greg’s original major was mathematics. Redondo Beach P.D. promptly hired him where he was already interning. Greg attended Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy, Class 141. He graduated in July 1970. After a short period of time with Redondo Beach, he hired as a lateral with Newport Beach P.D. October 1970. He was brought on board the same time as Charlie Beswick and Doug Fletcher. As usual, he did his time in a unit. During this time Greg remembers Officer Davie Dome. Dome was working a traffic assignment, his nitch. “Davie loved to roll code 3; any excuse, any time – any place. Riding shotgun with Dome was quite an experience. You never knew if you were going to make it to the call or to the scene of the accident.” Greg indicated that his favorite assignment was that he really enjoyed working at O.C.A.T.T. the last couple of years of his career. The auto theft detail was the best and the most fun. What held his interest at OCATT was the independence, the mechanics, and making cases. The different agencies performed their undercover assignments as a good team. Ken Cowell was his property crimes sergeant at the P.D. At age 40 Greg participated in 2 Baker/Vegas runs inspired by Les Chapman. Jim Spears would be in the motor home, driving at break neck speeds from one point to the next. “Great times.” Kent Stoddard and Greg worked Public Relations/Environmental Services out of the Chief’s office. Greg worked as back up to Kent to assist putting together the first joint police and fire open house event. Chief Campbell was going to discontinue having open house because of poor attendance. They enlisted the Harbor Patrol, Swat team, and helicopter program to become involved. Lee Roberts displayed his large array of police memorabilia. They created more hands-on activities for kids. Since then it remains to be a success and a large public draw. When asked what was his worst assignment he stated records section sergeant supervisor. The records section was a very frustrating and difficult appointment. It was his last assignment before he left the department the first time. Greg left the P.D. after 8+ years to work with Cliff Yarges and Wally Kerr to develop an automated system for handling parking citations. The system was designed to cover agencies all over southern California. He took a chance. It went well the first 6 months but the company eventually folded after a year. He applied to come back the P.D. and was rehired by Chief Campbell, and started all over again. While assigned as second seat with pioneering helicopter pilot Officer Jim Golfos, they were called to assist Laguna Beach P.D. with lighting up an accident scene over the cliffs. Their engine cut out, overheated, and would not restart. They had to perform an emergency auto rotation and land at Laguna Beach high school football field. Subsequently, they waited there until the following morning to have it trucked out to Tallmantz at the airport. Greg was in the helicopter formation with pilot Officer Chuck Olmstead for the funeral of Frank Tallmantz. Tallmantz business had serviced many of the helicopter fleet. Following his move to Grants Pass, Greg continued with his devotion to being a Boy Scout Master. He was a Boy Scout in his youth. As his sons became of age, he first became involved with the Cub Scouts where he was a Master and formed several packs. He was a Boy Scout Master in Laguna Niguel for many years and led troops on wilderness backpacking trips, mountain and rock climbing excursions, and took the scouts around surrounding southern California areas. Until recently, January 2009, he was still leading troops throughout the Oregon wilderness at age 60. He remains involved in Eagle Scout advancement. Greg has 4 successful sons. His youngest son Philip, 23, lives in southern California. Philip graduated from the University of Oregon and is in medical supply sales. Andrew went into the Air Force, is a veteran of the Iraq war, and saw some tough combat service. He is now a civilian, working as a medic and living in Boston where brother Dan resides. Dan is a graduate of Colorado State University and works as an engineer. #1 son Matt, 33, graduated from Cal State Fullerton, lives in Florida, has 2 daughters, and composes music. Greg spent 7+ years in the Grants Pass area operating his own private investigation firm. When his first marriage ended he met Ruthie in a bible study. They have been married for 2 years. When asked what he loves best about living in Grants Pass he indicated the mountains, open space, trees, fast running rivers to kayak, fishing, hiking and climbing. Winters are milder than much of the Northwest. Greg is currently working for the Oregon Construction Contractors Board as an investigator and enforces contractor’s law in the construction trade. His territory is the southern portion of Oregon. His office is out of his home – and that’s the best part. Update and photo Prepared by Anita Fisher