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6 PSPD officers who aided fallen friends during shootings identified, honored

Published September 27, 2017 5:30 PM

Two Palm Springs Police officers who were killed in the line of duty are bring honored in a special tribute Tuesday. You can watch it streaming live by clicking here.

Officers Jose “Gil” Vega and Lesley Zerebny were shot while on a call last October.

For the first time since the tragedy, six Palm Springs Police Department officers who helped the fallen officers are being identified and honored.

They are: Sgt. Shawn Flinn, Officer Jeffrey Burton, Officer Byron Farley, Officer David Etchason, Officer Abraham Vargas and Officer Mario Serrano.

The six officers received the Medals of Valor.

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The father of Lesley Zerebny and Jose “Gil” Vega’s daughter accepted the Medal of Valor awards on behalf of the fallen officers. Zerebny’s father David Kling said his daughter is now his hero.”She gave the ultimate sacrifice for the city of palm springs she loved this city and she loved the police department

“She gave the ultimate sacrifice for the city of Palm Springs. She loved this city and she loved the police department,” Kling said.

The remembrance is part of the annual Palm Springs Police and Fire Appreciation Luncheon presented by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, City of Palm Springs, and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

According to a release, the program is to “highlight the 2016 accomplishments of the City’s hardworking police and fire departments,” as well as provide updates from the police and fire departments.

Betty Callies of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians will be awarded The Richard M. Milanovich Community Leadership Award.

The sixth-annual event was held Tuesday at the Renaissance Palm Springs Resort.