Napa Valley College Police Academy Graduate Killed in the Line of Duty

announced Monday that Jermaine Gibson, a graduate from the 50th Basic Police Academy Class, was killed recently in the line of duty in southern California.

“To my knowledge, he is the first graduate of our academy to have been killed in an on-duty incident," said Dean Greg Miraglia in a statement.

The online edition of the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Gibson, 29, of Beaumont, was killed late Friday night in Cathedral City “in a fiery crash when he crashed into a palm tree while pursuing a stolen car during a high speed chase.”

The NVC Criminal Justice Training Center staff are planning a memorial ceremony open to the campus community at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the college’s new North Gymnasium in the Police Academy mat room on the second floor, according to the announcement.

 “We will be retiring a set of academy flags and presenting them to a group of fellow graduates who will hand-carry the flags to Jermaine's family,” Miraglia said. 

Those attending may bring notes and cards for delivery to Gibson's family, according to a flyer for the memorial ceremony.