Cathedral City Police Department Healing After Deadly Crash

Serve and protect.

That’s what police officers do.

It’s a challenge right now for Cathedral City Officers after the death of their friend and co-worker Officer Jermaine Gibson.

He was killed during a chase on March 18th.

Gibson is the third Cathedral City police officer to die in the line of duty since the department opened in 1984.

Police Chief Kevin Conner knew all three of them.

Cards and letters from law enforcement from around the country fill his desk. There’s also been an outpouring of support from the community.

“I received emails from members of the community that I didn’t even know, that had those calls for service where he would respond and they would tell me how much they enjoyed him,” said Conner.

Grief counselors are trying to help officers struggling with Gibson’s death.

According to Chief Conner says community events like the funeral and Monday night’s fundraiser help strengthen moral.

But, he said the key to helping department heal is to remind them they still have a job to do.

“Many times it’s to help them stay involved and stay busy. Another good thing about law enforcement is it’s an active profession. So while your at work you stay active, there isn’t a lot of time to just sit around and think about the lose that we’ve all just experienced,” said Conner.

Gibson leaves behind a wife and young son, both of whom face a tough road ahead.

He also leaves behind nearly a hundred of his brothers and sisters at the department.

Conner says Gibson would want his loved ones to heal quickly.

“He would want all of his friends and relatives and colleagues to just try to move on with their lives and remember the great memories of when he was here,” said Conner.

Meanwhile, Palm Springs Police and the California Highway Patrol continue investigating the crash that killed Officer Gibson.