Chief Deputy James Armstrong 

Chief Deputy Jim Armstrong was hired with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in 1995 and was assigned to the Indio Jail. In 1997 he was transferred to the Indio Station where he patrolled the cities of La Quinta and Coachella and the unincorporated county areas. He was also assigned to the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team.

In April of 2003 he was promoted to Investigator within the Indio Station and was one of the first two members of the newly created Coachella Special Enforcement Team. In April of 2005 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to the Palm Desert Station where he worked patrol and was eventually assigned to supervise the Investigations Bureau. In September of 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred back to the Indio Station where he oversaw patrol operations. He then oversaw the Investigations Bureau and was assigned the administrative position to oversee the stations transition to what is now the Thermal Station. In June of 2012 he was transferred to the Special Investigations Bureau where he oversaw the Major Narcotics Division. In April of 2017 he was transferred to the Dispatch Bureau.

In January of 2018 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and assumed command of the Dispatch Bureau, the Information Services Bureau, Fleet operations and the PSEC radio system. In January of 2020 he was transferred to command the Planning Bureau. In August of 2020 he was transferred to the Coroner/Public Administrator Bureau.

Chief Deputy Armstrong possesses a bachelor’s degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

On November 17, 2022, Chief Armstrong was appointed to his current rank by Sheriff Chad Bianco.