By Irma Widjojo
Vallejo Times Herald
A former Vallejo Police Explorer and, most recently, a Cathedral City police officer killed in the line of duty Friday night, was recalled Monday as a dedicated cop whose newborn son will someday be told of his devotion to law enforcement.
Officer Jermaine Gibson, 29, who was born in the East Bay, was killed after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a palm tree during a high speed vehicle pursuit of a stolen vehicle at about 11: 34 p.m., a statement released by Cathedral City Police Department said.
Gibson sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said. The collision was still under investigation as of Monday by the California Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team.
“It has been difficult for the whole department,” Cathedral City police Sgt. Paul Herrera said. “He was one of our best examples of a young police officer. He was professional, friendly to the public, and relentless to the suppression of crime.”
Gibson had worked all his life to be a police officer. Born in the East Bay, he was a member of the Richmond Police Explorer before joining Vallejo Police Explorer around 1998, Brian Brisco, a close friend, said.
The Vallejo Police Department on Monday confirmed Gibson’s enrollment in the program.
Brisco, who was born and raised in Vallejo, said he met Gibson in the Vallejo Police Explorer program and “had been inseparable ever since.”
The Explorers is a Police Activity League program that exposes youth to law enforcement.
“He was a brother more than anything to me,” Brisco said tearfully. “He was the best man at my wedding.”
Gibson, along with Brisco, enrolled in the Napa Valley College Basic Police Academy and graduated from the 50th Basic Police Academy Class in December 2002.
“To my knowledge, he is the first graduate of our academy to have been killed in an on-duty incident,” Dean Greg Miraglia of the college’s Police Academy said.
After graduation Gibson enlisted in the Marine Corps for four years and served two tours in Iraq, Brisco said. He also received a Purple Heart for each tour, he added.
After he was discharged in 2007, he worked for city of Desert Hot Springs and Rialto police departments before joining the Cathedral City Police Department about one and a half year ago, Herrera of the Cathedral City Police Department said.
Gibson was married in September and his son, Jermaine Gibson Jr., was born Feb. 19, Brisco said.
“His son would not remember meeting him, but we’ll make sure he will never forget,” Brisco added.
A memorial and burial service will be held Friday, and Gibson’s body will be buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Herrera said.
Napa Valley College also will also hold a public memorial service honoring Gibson at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, in the Police Academy Mat Room. The college is at 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa.
Brisco’s wife, Heather Brisco, organized an ongoing fundraiser through April 30, to help Gibson’s wife, Jessica Gibson, and son through PartyLite Candles, in which 100 percent of the profit will be donated to Gibson’s family. Contact Heather Brisco at (510) 685-1542 or Hvale23@yahoo.com for more information.
The Cathedral City Police Department also established a memorial fund to help Gibson’s family though the Cathedral City Police Officers Association. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1131 Cathedral City, CA 92235. The checks should be made payable to The Cathedral City Police Officer’s Foundation c/o Officer Gibson Fund.
"(Gibson) was admired by many and loved by everyone,” Brian Brisco said. “He was known for his humor. I’m sure he’s making God laugh right now.”
Copyright 2011 The Times-Herald