Greg Mattson

Greg was born in San Diego. At age five his family moved to Chile for two years where his dad managed a Starkist tuna cannery. After the two years they moved back to San Diego for one year and then to Orange County.

Greg attended UCI with a chemical engineering major. He later switched to social sciences and graduated in 3 1⁄2 years in 1972. In December of 1971, he interviewed with NBPD. He was interviewed by Lt. Laurin and Sgt. Valenti. Greg told them, “If you want me now, I can’t go, I have to finish class.” Greg apparently did so and then took a job for his dad repositioning a tuna clipper from New Zealand to San Diego. It was a six-week trip including dropping off a load of fish in Samoa. Upon arrival in Honolulu, he received a phone call from his dad saying that NBPD wanted to hire him.

Greg was hired by NBPD and graduated from the LAPD Academy in May, 1972. Greg worked Patrol and in the Training Office. He worked with Vince Antista who gave Greg “the real story about what life is all about.” While in Patrol, he filled in as a helicopter observer and became good friends with Chuck Olmstead. Chuck convinced Greg to buy a motorcycle and that developed into Greg’s goal of becoming a motor officer.

While on motors and nearing the two-year rotation, his motor boots were in need of resoling. Not wanting to spend money needlessly for the resoling, he talked to Captain Oyaas. He was told no problem, get them resoled. One week later, he was transferred back to Patrol.

In 1977 he took the Sergeants Test. He did very well on the written and oral but his department evaluation was low. He was told he was “not ready.” Lt. Mike Blitch pulled him aside and said, “Get inside. No one knows you.” Greg transferred to Planning & Research and Crime Analyst. Greg was promoted to Sergeant in 1978.

In 1981, Greg was hit by a drunk driver at a collision scene. Greg has no recollection of the three days prior to, or following, the injury. He was told the collision he was present at was off the road into a wire fence and that wire cutters were needed. They were not carried in units at that time. Always prepared, Greg had some in his brief case. Greg responded to the location and was on-scene, on foot, when he was struck by the DUI driver.

Greg spent three to four weeks in a coma and five months in a hospital. He was later medically retired. Greg has his own business, “High Performance Driving for the Mind.” Greg trains police officers in judgment skills and decision making.

Greg lives in Long Beach with his wife, Judy.
Greg passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Feb. 1, 2009.