Page 5 - East County Leader - March 2014

SPOTLIGHT

east county leader

was deployed to Granada as a paratrooper have secondary skills should his job be
with Operation Urgent Fury. He was hon- eliminated.

orably discharged in 1986, and enrolled “I went through every bit of the acad-
in Mt. Hood Community College to study emy,” he said. “I didn’t do it to be a ire-

criminal justice. Evenings were spent as a ighter so much as to build credibility as
night watchman at what is now known as an information oicer. So when the op-

the Inn at the Mountain in Welches.
portunity came to be a shit ireighter, I

“Nobody stole golf lags on my watch,” was qualiied.”
he quipped.
But Matthews’ heart has always led

In May 1987, Matthews signed on him to help others outside his position as
with the Gresham Police Department. a irst responder. While still with the po-

He worked as a patrol oicer and quickly lice department, he learned of a program
joined the department’s SWAT team. At for inner-city underprivileged kids called

the urging of Gresham Police Sgt. Terry Camp Rosenbaum.
O’Keefe, he became a DARE oicer, Matthews jumped at the chance to

teaching middle schoolers about drug re- volunteer and never looked back.
sistance and awareness.
“hose kids at the camp need com-

he experience, Matthews said, mitment,” he said. “I don’t plan anything
taught him that making an impact in the for the summer until I know what the

community extended beyond serving dates are for camp.”
those in crisis.
Founded 44 years ago by Brig. Gen. Elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2008, Matthews served six years representing

“DARE took some of the tactical edge (Ret.) Fred Rosenbaum, the weeklong Gresham in Salem. His experience, he said, taught him how to build consensus among people
of being a police oicer,” he said. “I found resident camp for nearly 200 low-income and find common ground to effectively work together. Matthews announced he would not seek

I liked working in the schools because it kids is held each summer at Camp Rilea re-election in early March. OUTLOOK PHOTO: JIM CLARK
was more about community involvement in Warranton on the Oregon Coast. A

and less about law enforcement.”
partnership between the Oregon Air Na-
In 1997, then-Gresham Fire Chief tional Guard, Portland Community Po- Harbin

Dick Jones approached Matthews, asking licing and Home Forward sponsors the
if he would be interested in the position camp, which is stafed by volunteers from

of public information oicer for the ire metro law enforcement agencies, ire-
department. Matthews agreed.
ighters and national guard members, as

“he irst 30 days were diicult,” he well as everyday folks who have a passion
said. “I regretted the decision and really for working with kids.

wanted to go back to the (police depart- he camp’s mission is to provide men- ACUPUNCTURE & WELLNESS
ment). But I decided to stay with ire and torship and positive role models for kids

make the best of it.”
lacking those inluences in their lives.
City budget cuts in 1999 whittled ire As one who considers himself fortunate

department positions, including that of with opportunities in life, Matthews felt a Harbin Acupuncture & Wellness offers natural and effective medicine
the lone prevention specialist. Matthews strong obligation to return the favor.
designed to address a wide variety of health concerns
absorbed part of those duties in addition “I have to give credit to a lot of people
to being information oicer, but ques- in my life, who have seen something in
Addie Harbin LAc uses Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Supplements,
tioned whether his job would survive me and encouraged me to do something
future budget reductions. He enrolled else,” he said. “It’s why I became a cop.
relexology and more to create customized, patient-focused treatments.

in the ire academy to better understand
the work of department personnel and to
continued on next page
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47

GREG MATTHEWS

503-512-8663 interim Fire Chief, Gresham Fire and Emergency Services
Addie Harbin, LAc

5
march 2014