Cmdr. Brian Armstrong, the second-in-command of the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office, has given notice of his intention to retire from the force this January.
Camp Verde Marshal Corey Rowley announced the news while informing the Camp Verde Town Council on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at their weekly meeting.
“I really had a great time at the Marshal’s office, and they’ve got a lot of good people there,” Armstrong said of his departure. “This office is in good hands with Corey.”
Armstrong started at the CVMO in June 2017, after having previously worked in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Gilbert Police Department and the Arizona Department of Transportation Enforcement Compliance Division. His tenure in the CVMO included some rocky patches, which led to Armstrong serving as acting marshal starting in March 2018 after the resignation of Marshal Nancy Gardner.
He stayed in the position until September 2018, until Rowley was hired. Armstrong was a candidate for Gardner’s position in the first round of hirings.
Armstrong is a resident of the Village of Oak Creek; he intends to live there after he leaves the CVMO.
Still in his 50s, Armstrong said that he does not intend to fully retire but only to leave his work in law enforcement and the public sector.
He is unsure at this time of his future plans.
“September was my 32 years,” Armstrong said. “I had just done a lot of thinking over the last couple of months before that and I think that after 32 years, it’s just time. There’s really no other explanation except it’s my personal life. I really felt it was just time.”
Armstrong said that he intends to remain active in the Camp Verde community and attend many functions in town even after he leaves the CVMO.
During the meeting, there was also a ceremony promoting deputy Jeff Patton to the rank of sergeant within the CVMO.
