Remembering Palm Springs’ fallen heroes

Officer Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega, a 35-year-veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department, and 27-year-old Officer Lesley Zerebny, who is survived by her husband and 4-month old daughter, were gunned down after responding to a family disturbance call at a Palm Springs home on Saturday.

Darkness loomed over the Coachella Valley on Monday, following the weekend’s tragedy. Many people in Riverside County were trying to put the pieces back together by remembering the fallen heroes.

“They are some of the most outstanding, amazing people you will ever meet in your life,” said Sgt. William Hutchinson to KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner at a news briefing outside the Palm Springs Police Department Monday. “They were made for this job. They were made to protect their communities.”

Hutchinson supervised Officer Zerebny and worked closely with Officer Vega.

“There are no words right now. We are trying to grieve in our own way,” he added.

That’s the story for much of the county.

“When I heard later it was Lesley, it just stopped me in my tracks,” said Alex Ballard, Zerebny’s high school chemistry teacher at West Valley High School in Hemet.

He said his heart sank when he heard the news about the new mother.

“Leslie was amazingly bright and gregarious and outgoing and filled the room with laughter,” he said in an interview on Monday. “She was a positive kid and I couldn’t say enough about her.”

The family of Officer Vega spoke to the public at a vigil onSunday night.

“He was a real dedicated police officer,” one of his brothers said. “He loved his job.”

Officer Vega, who had been set to retire in December, was a father to eight and brother to so many more.

In downtown Palm Springs where Maria Irene Aldape works, there is a show of support. The large window into the store is now sliced by a thin blue line.

“Well, it’s just trying to show support for our local Police Department that’s gone through a tragic event here in Palm Springs,” she said through tears.

It hits especially close to home for Aldape, whose godson was shot in the line of duty a few years ago. He survived but his partner, K-9 Ike, did not.

“Our prayers are with families,” Aldape added.

A third officer who was shot on Saturday has not been identified but was released from Desert Regional Medical Center on Sunday.

The Palm Springs Police Department is accepting donations for the families of Officer Zerebny and Officer Vega.