Law Enforcement Agencies Reach Out To Cathedral City

Thousands are expected to pay their respects Friday for slain Cathedral City police officer Jermaine Gibson, 28, who died one week ago.

Several local law enforcement agencies are helping out the Cathedral City police department by covering their shifts, so they can attend the funeral.

Cathedral City police officials say they’ve experienced a wave of emotions since officer Gibson was killed over the weekend.

The same goes for Cal Fire, Palm Springs, Indio police and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and that’s why all are jumping in to help.

“The city will be covered, and yes, the city will be safe,” said Sgt. Radek Horkel, with the Sheriff’s Department.

Within hours of Friday’s deadly crash, the Sheriff’s Department was assisting the Cathedral City police on responding to patrol calls.

Starting at midnight on Friday, the Sheriff’s Department is taking over patrol calls for a 24-hour period, while Cathedral City prepares for officer Gibson’s funeral and mourns his loss.

“We’re gonna have three shifts, a day shift, a swing shift and a graveyard shift,” said Horkel. “Each shift is gonna have five deputies and a patrol sergeant.”

Palm Springs, Indio and Beaumont police will man the dispatch center.

Cal Fire and San Bernadino County Fire will cover three fire stations within Cathedral City.

An American Medical Response ambulance will also respond to emergency calls.

“Anytime any one of us unfortunately die in the line of duty, it’s hard,” said Horkel.

This is not the first time the Sheriff’s Department has volunteered it’s services to another agency.

It covered the City of Riverside last year when Officer Ryan Bonominio, 27, was murdered while trying to catch a truck driver who left the scene of an accident.

Much like Gibson, Bonominio was also a military veteran, both serving two combat tours overseas.

“I think it’s gonna be a very meaningful experience and a very significant day,” said Bob Thune, lead pastor at Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells, which will hold the funeral at 10 a.m. on Friday

Family, friends and fellow officers will attend, and 4,000 people are expected.

If you’d like to pay your respects, you should stand along Washington Street between Fred Waring Drive and Country Club Drive just after 11:30 a.m.

“After the funeral, there’s the procession that’s gonna go to Riverside, and it’s gonna go northbound on Washington to I-10, westbound to I-10 Riverside to the Riverside National Cemetary,” said Horkel.

Gibson is survived by his wife and son, who was 4 weeks old when his father died in fiery crash, on duty, serving his community.

“It also gives us a perspective on how important life is and how short it can be,” said Horkel.

Officials warn of possible traffic delays as the procession travels through the Coachella Valley to Riverside.

Some side streets will be closed, and authorities just ask that you be patient and pay your respects.