Officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny. Courtesy Palm Springs Police Department
The city of Palm Springs will honor slain police officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny Tuesday at a public memorial service to be attended by Gov. Jerry Brown, state Attorney General Kamala Harris and law enforcement officials from across the country.
The service for Vega and Zerebny, who were gunned down after responding to a family disturbance call at a Palm Springs home, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
The officers will be transported to the convention center via separate procession routes, Vega from the Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cathedral City and Zerebny from the Ramona Bowl Amphitheater located in her hometown of Hemet.
The Palm Springs Police Department will be accepting memorial service flower donations until 6 tonight at the convention center.
Members of the public planning on attending the ceremony can park at the Palm Springs Mall, at 2365 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. Shuttles will be available starting at 9 a.m. to take people to and from the Palm Springs Mall and the convention center.
Roads will be shut down in the surrounding area from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The closures include:
— Alejo Road from Calle El Segundo to Avenida Caballeros;
— Hermosa Drive from Amado Road to Tahquitz Canyon Way;
— Tahquitz Canyon Way between Calle Encilia and Hermosa Drive; and
— Calle Encilia between Amado Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way.
A graveside service for Vega will follow at the Coachella Valley Public Cemetery. Roads will closed near the Coachella cemetery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or when the service concludes.
The closures include:
— Jackson Street between Celebration Drive and Avenue 53; and
— Avenue 52 between Cahuilla Desert Academy and Calhoun Street.
Vega, 63, was with the department for 35 years — five years past his retirement eligibility — and had planned to finish his career in December.
Zerebny, 27, was with the department for a year and a half and was married to a sheriff’s deputy. She gave birth to a daughter four months ago and had just returned to duty from maternity leave.
Zerebny’s graveside service will be held at a private location and will only be open to family members.
The alleged shooter, John Hernandez Felix, 26, was arrested by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies following a 12-hour standoff at his home. He faces murder, attempted murder and numerous other felony charges, including allegations that could have him facing the death penalty.
–City News Service
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