Lieutenant Fred Armijo was born and raised in Oceanside, graduated from Oceanside High School in 1989, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Workforce Education from Southern Illinois University in 2006. He was an Oceanside lifeguard before joining the Police Department in 1994.

Lieutenant Armijo worked patrol, the Neighborhood Enhancement Team, the Primary Response Team, was a detective and a department trainer prior to promoting to Sergeant in 2001. As a sergeant he served as a patrol team supervisor, a SWAT team leader, and the Professional Standards Unit supervisor prior to promoting to Lieutenant in 2007. Lieutenant Armijo is currently a Watch Commander in the Field Operations Division.