How You Can Help

The Cathedral City POA has established a memorial fund to assist Gibson's family. 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.

About the Honoree

On Friday, March 18, 2011, at approximately 11:34 p.m., Cathedral City Police Officer Jermaine Gibson was involved in a high speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle occupied by a wanted parolee at large.  During the pursuit, Officer Gibson lost control of his police unit and collided with a palm tree on the east side of South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.  Officer Gibson sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased at the collision scene.

The suspects in the car he was pursuing also crashed farther down the road along Indian Canyon Drive near Camino Parocela. Witnesses said that car also collided with a palm tree, and then exploded.  Officials report the occupants of the car are hospitalized at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs with major injuries.

Officer Gibson, age 29, served with the Cathedral City Police Department for 18 months and had previously served with the Rialto and Desert Hot Springs Police Departments. Gibson was honorably discharged as an infantry squad leader from the U.S. Marine Corps after four years of duty, which included two tours in Iraq.  He was awarded a Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, and Pistol/Rifle Expert Badges.

Officer Gibson is survived by his wife, Jessica and one month old son, Jermaine Anthony Gibson; mother, Cheryl Gibson; and brother, Taurean R. Gibson.