Reporting from PALM SPRINGS — Outside the Palm Springs Police Department on Sunday, community members were adding to the growing tribute of flowers, American flags and candles left for the fallen officers.
A gunman killed two officers and wounded a third Saturday. The dead were identified as Officer Jose “Gil” Vega, a 35-year department veteran who was due to retire in December, and Officer Lesley Zerebny, the mother of a 4-month-old who recently returned to work from maternity leave.
Carrie Donovan wiped away tears as she and her husband, Mike, walked back to their car after dropping off flowers. Mike worked with the Palm Springs police for 30 years and retired in 2014.
He worked with Vega during his time as an officer.
“Gil was an outstanding police officer. Highest level of integrity, cared deeply for all the citizens of the city of Palm Springs and beyond and just gave his heart to the job and to the community,” he said, as his wife wiped away tears. “I can’t think of a better cop. It was an honor to work with him.”
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James Carter, 11, grandson of Officer Jose “Gil” Vega, is comforted by family members during a vigil for the slain Palm Spring police officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 2/26
The Palm Springs community mourns along with the family of slain Officer Jose “Gil” Vega during the memorial. Vanessa Vega, 9, second from right, and the rest of her family during the vigil.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 3/26
The Lacey and Burden family, along with other community members, attend a vigil.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 4/26
Community members grieve during a vigil for slain police officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 5/26
Ricardo Hinojosa, nephew of Officer Jose ‘Gil’ Vega, is comforted by family members after a vigil.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 6/26
Community members attend a vigil for the 2 slain Palm Springs police officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 7/26
Community members attend a vigil for the slain Palm Spring police officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 8/26
Family members of slain police officers Jose ‘Gil’ Vega bow their heads in prayer as they attend a vigil.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 9/26
Police Chief Bryan Reyes holds a news conference in front of the police station in Palm Springs.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 10/26
Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes pauses for a moment during a news conference.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 11/26
Community members grieve in front of the makeshift memorial in front the Palm Springs Police Department.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 12/26
Family members of Palm Springs police officers killed and injured are paying their respect at a memorial set in front of the police station in Palm Springs.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 13/26
Family members of Palm Springs police officers killed and injured are paying their respect at a memorial set in front of the police station in Palm Springs.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 14/26
Family members of Palm Springs police officers killed and injured are paying their respect at a memorial set in front of the police station in Palm Springs.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 15/26
Palm Springs police officers search for a suspect after three Palm Springs officers were shot, two of which were killed in Palm Springs.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 16/26
Palm Springs police officers search for a suspect after three Palm Springs officers were shot, two of which were killed in Palm Springs.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 17/26
Palm Springs police officers search for a suspect on Bahada Road after three of their colleagues were shot, two fatally.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 18/26
Palm Springs police officers search for a suspect after two officers were shot and killed and one was wounded.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 19/26
Palm Springs police officers search for a suspect after three of their colleagues were shot Saturday, two fatally.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 20/26
Police officers patrol Palm Springs on Saturday, searching for a gunman who opened fire on officers at a residence.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 21/26
Palm Springs police officers search for a suspect accused of gunning down two police officers and injuring a third on Saturday.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 22/26
Officers from multiple agencies investigate a shooting scene in Palm Springs in which two police officers were killed and a third was wounded.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 23/26
Palm Springs police officers on Chuperosa Road stand watch after three officers were shot.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 24/26
Palm Springs police officers on Chuperosa Road block access to a pedestrian after shootings in a residential neighborhood on Saturday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 25/26
Palm Springs police officers stand watch on Chuperosa Road after the shootings.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 26/26
A Palm Springs police officer wears a black band on his badge after two colleagues were killed and a third injured in a shooting Saturday afternoon.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Donovan described Gil as an officer who “always thought of others before himself,” especially in emergency situations. “He was just an excellent police officer,” he said.
The couple heard about the deaths through social media and were in disbelief, especially after finding out who was involved. Mike Donovan said Gil was the father of eight “great” children.
“He was a great family man and did a lot for the community. He was a very giving person,” Donovan said. “It’s the loss of a brother officer and a loved one. It’s like a family member.”
Donovan noted how long it had been since the last officer death.
“It’s just one of those things you think about being a guardian of the public. You don’t let it occupy your mind as you’re working, but you try and prepare yourself for it and your loved ones. And when it does happen, we all come together.”
After working from 10 p.m. Saturday until 6 Sunday morning, Tina Muela, an Indio resident, picked up her mother and headed to the police department to drop off flowers.
Her nephew has been a Palm Springs police officer for about five years. On Saturday, she saw there was a shooting and that two officers had died. Right away, she called her sister, concerned for the nephew’s safety. Her sister reassured her that her son was fine.
She was relieved her nephew was OK, but she also felt sadness for the officers who were killed.
“This is family,” Muela said, looking at the Palm Springs police building. “I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s just so horrible. ... Nobody has any respect for law enforcement. People have lost all respect for law enforcement.
“Worries me every day,” she said.
Police chaplains waited outside the police department, preparing to speak with officers about the deaths of their colleagues.
Steve Ballinger, lead chaplain for the Riverside Police Department, was invited to meet with officers throughout the day.
“Our hearts are broken,” he said. “This is happening way too much.”
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UPDATES:
12:40 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from a police chaplain.
This article was originally published at 11:02 a.m.
