Fallen PSPD officers remembered at police memorial in Riverside

The law enforcement community is gathering to once again pay homage to their own.

Law enforcement agencies from across Southern California are in Riverside Monday night for a ceremony remembering fallen Palm Springs officers Jose ‘Gil’ Vega and Lesley Zerebny. Their names will be added to the ‘Safe in Arms’ statue in front of the Riverside Police Department.

Both officers were shot and killed in the line of duty on October 8, 2016.

The Riverside County Peace Officer’s Memorial ceremony begans with a 2 1/2-mile jog at 5:45 p.m., which led into the start of the ceremony. Once Officer Vega and Zerebny’s names are added to the statue, it will feature the names of 64 fallen officers.

“Doing these things and meeting all the family members who have been going through this, it has really brought some sort of peace to us. It’s nice to see everyone honoring my mad and Lesley and showing their respect,” said Gloria Vega.

Seated in the front row for the ceremony was Zerebny’s husband, a Riverside County Depty, and their 11-month-old daughter Cora.

“She reminds me a lot of Lesley when she was born an young. Beautiful, adorable and she has a really strong will. She lets you know exactly when she is not getting what she wants which is exactly the way Lesley was,” said David Kling, Zerebny’s father.

KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2’s Joe Galli is live in Riverside to give you full coverage of the ceremony.

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