CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- A young Cathedral City police officer was killed Friday night after his patrol car lost control during a high-speed chase, officials said.
Cathedral City Police Officer Jermaine Gibson, 29, was involved in a high speed pursuit around 11:30 p.m. Friday when he lost control and hit a palm tree on South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Two officers removed him from the wreckage, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The stolen vehicle also crashed and caught fire. One of the men inside was a wanted parolee. He and another man inside the vehicle were arrested and transported to a local hospital.
Gibson, a former U.S. Marine, had been with the force for over one-and-a-half years. "Officer Gibson was a tenacious officer who believed in the profession and making a difference in the community," said police media representative Chuck Robinson. He was married last year and his wife had just given birth to a boy last month.
An investigation into the accident is currently underway.
A memorial fund has been set up to help his family. Anyone wishing to donate can contact the Cathedral City Police Officer Association at 951-906-4552 or [email protected].
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
