Banning, Beaumont Residents and Police Show Support For Slain Palm Springs Officers

BEAUMONT, CA — Pass area residents lined the funeral procession route Tuesday as the loved ones of slain Palm Springs Police Officer Lesley Zerebny made their way to a memorial service in the desert.

The procession, which left from Hemet and ended in Palm Springs, involved dozens of law enforcement vehicles that took nearly five minutes to pass by. Here in town, the route headed north on Beaumont Avenue out of Lambs Canyon, to Interstate 10. Onlookers gathered at the corner of the thoroughfares to show their respect for the fallen.

Once the procession had passed, Beaumont's own police joined in, riding at the tail end to the convention center, where a memorial service was held for both Zerebny and Officer Jose 'Gil' Vega.

In a lavish ceremony that followed— peppered with tears, laughter, music and memories— the two slain Palm Springs police officers were honored as dedicated public servants; one near the end of his career and the other just beginning hers, and as loving parents and friends.

But amid the emotion of the memorial service for Officers Jose Gilbert Vega, 63, and Lesley Zerebny, 27, came a call for end to violence against law enforcement officers across the nation.

"Enough is enough," Palm Springs police Chief Bryan Reyes told the crowd of thousands gathered at the Palm Springs Convention Center, including police from around the country.

"Our law enforcement brothers and sisters throughout the country are growing tired of this unacceptable behavior," he said, drawing loud applause from the audience.

"The threat to law enforcement throughout our country is very real," Reyes said, fighting back tears. "No community is exempt from such a tragedy."

END OF WATCH: The following broadcasts were played at the memorial service. We've attached them to some images from the day.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Photos by Renee Schiavone