THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS A SIOUX CITY POLICE OFFICER HAS PASSED AWAY.
JANELL ARMSTRONG DIED LAST SUNDAY AT THE AGE OF 84.
SHE GREW UP AS JANELL DAWS ON A FARM IN WILLIS, NEBRASKA AND GRADUATED FROM BISHOP HEELAN HIGH SCHOOL IN 1960.
IN 1972, JANELL JOINED THE POLICE ACADEMY AND BECAME THE FIRST POLICEWOMAN IN SIOUX CITY HISTORY, SERVING FOR 25 YEARS.
HER CLOSE FRIEND, JANET COMEAU, SAYS IT WASN’T EASY FOR HER AT FIRST, JOINING THE ALL MALE DEPARTMENT:
JANELL1 OC…..ARE THERE NOW. :26
ARMSTRONG OFTEN WORKED NIGHTS WHILE ON DUTY, AND COMEAU RECALLED A TOUGH INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED FOR JANELLE:
JANELL2 OC…..FIRST FEMALE OFFICER. :30
COMEAU SAYS ARMSTRONG WAS ABLE TO HELP MANY FEMALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND ASSAULT BECAUSE AS A WOMAN, SHE HAD A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH:
JANELL3 OC……AT THAT TIME. :19
IN 2015, JANELL PUBLISHED HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY, “PATROLLING THE DARKNESS”, WHICH IS THE STORY OF HOW FAITH GUIDED HER THROUGH HER JOURNEY AS THE FIRST FEMALE SIOUX CITY POLICE OFFICER:
JANELL4 OC…….SHARE THE GOSPEL. :20
ARMSTRONG WAS MARRIED TWICE WITH THREE CHILDREN AND THREE STEP CHILDREN.
SERVICES WILL BE AT 11:00AM, MONDAY, AUGUST 17, AT RESTORATION CHURCH ON 4310 OLD LAKEPORT ROAD THROUGH CHRISTY SMITH FUNERAL HOME.
