Fundraiser For Cathedral City Officer Held Friday

One of the favorite eateries of a Cathedral City police officer killed in the line of duty will hold a fundraiser today for the fallen officer.

Officer Jermaine Gibson, who died early March 19 when his patrol car slammed into a palm tree while he was chasing a stolen car with two people inside, liked to eat at TKB Bakery & Deli in Palm Desert.

The family that owns the restaurant attended Gibson’s funeral and decided to hold a fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today to support Gibson’s widow and infant son.

“He was a VIP at our deli, he’d come here all the time,” said Brandon Sippel, whose family owns the restaurant.

“We love the community,” Sippel said. “If you don’t love the community, you shouldn’t be in business.”

Sippel said 50 percent of the restaurant’s proceeds next Friday will be donated to the Jermaine Gibson Memorial Fund.

The eatery is located at 39420 Berkey Drive, just north of Interstate 10 near the Sun City community.

Another organization announced it, too, will hold a fundraiser for Gibson’s family.

The Palm Spring Lions Club on Saturday will hold a Hot Dog Lunch Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Second Street Park on Buddy Rogers Drive in Cathedral City. The group is teaming with the Cathedral City Little League, hosting the fundraiser as part of the league’s team photo shoot day.

A lunch including a hot dog, chips and a drink for $5 will be available. All proceeds will be donated to the memorial fund, Cathedral City spokeswoman Lynn Mallotto said.

Last week, a Denny’s in Cathedral City hosted a similar fundraiser, which had a strong turnout. An employee there said more than 400 people dined at the restaurant between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“It was nonstop all night and we had a good atmosphere,” the worker said.

Gibson, who lived in Beaumont, had been with the department for about 18 months and previously worked as a reserve officer with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department. He served two tours of duty in Iraq while in the Marine Corps and was awarded the Purple Heart.

His March 25 funeral drew an estimated 2,000 people to the Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells.

Other donations to the Jermaine Gibson Memorial Fund can be mailed to Post Office Box 1131, Cathedral City, Calif. 92235, or dropped off at the Cathedral City Police Department headquarters at City Hall.