POLICE OFFICER LESLEY ZEREBNY (END OF WATCH: OCTOBER 8, 2016)

 

Palm Springs Police Officer Lesley Zerebny

(Photo: Palm Springs Police Department)

Police Officer

Lesley Zerebny

Palm Springs Police Department, California

End of Watch: Saturday, October 8, 2016

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 27

Tour: 1 year, 6 months

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Weapon: Gun; Unknown type

Offender: In custody

Police Officer Lesley Zerebny and Police Officer Gil Vega were shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call in the 2700 block of Cypress Road shortly after noon.

A family member from the home had gone to a neighbor's house and and stated that his son was armed and wanted to shoot police officers. Responding officers, including Officer Vega and Officer Zerebny, arrived at the scene several minutes later. The man inside the home opened fire on them as they approached the front door, killing Officer Vega and Officer Zerebny and wounding a third officer.

The man then barricaded himself inside the home for approximately 12 hours. He was taken into custody by members of the Riverside County Sheriff's Office SWAT team. The subject was an admitted gang member.

Officer Zerebny had served with the Palm Springs Police Department for 18 months. She was survived by her husband, who also serves in law enforcement, and 4-month-old child.

Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

Chief of Police Bryan Reyes
Palm Springs Police Department
200 S. Civic Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone: (760) 323-8116

INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.odmp.org/officer/22990-police-officer-lesley-zerebny

INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.everipedia.com/lesley-zerebny-police-officer/

INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2016/10/12/father-slain-palm-springs-officer-calls-death-penalty/91922012/

Father of slain Palm Springs officer calls for death penalty

Barrett Newkirk , The Desert Sun 9:31 p.m. PDT October 11, 2016

Lesley Zerebny was wondering what direction her life should take when a television show pointed her to Palm Springs.

She and her father, David Kling, were watching an episode of "COPS" set in the city when Kling suggested his daughter consider joining the Palm Springs Police Department. Kling's 30-year career with the California Highway Patrol made him think she'd be a good fit.

Zerebny was working at a restaurant in Oceanside at the time. A year later, she was on the force.
"When she decided she wanted to do something, that's exactly what she did," Kling said Tuesday.
Zerebny and fellow officer Jose "Gil" Vega were shot and killed Saturday after responding to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at a Palm Springs home. A third unidentified officer was shot but is said to be recovering well after being released from the hospital Sunday.

READ MORE: John Felix used assault rifle in Palm Springs shooting, officials say

An outpouring of support has brought some relief to Zerebny's family over the ensuing days, Kling said.

Zerebny, 27, was the youngest of his three children. She graduated from West Valley High School in Hemet, where she still lived with her husband, Zach Zerebny, a Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputy.

Zach and Lesley Zerebny celebrated the birth of their first child, a girl named Cora, four months ago. Police say Zerebny had recently returned to work after maternity leave before she was killed.
"She followed in my footsteps and we were able to talk about her work and my experience, and it has just been brutal dealing with that," Kling said.

The Palm Springs Police Officers Association is accepting donations that it can direct to Zerebny's family.

Police say John Hernandez Felix, a 26-year-old with gang ties and a previous felony conviction, shot the three officers, leading to a 12-hour standoff that ended with Felix's arrest early Sunday. He is being held in a Riverside jail and is expected to be charged Wednesday.
Prosecutors have not said if they will seek the death penalty, but Kling is adamant that they must.

"I want the death penalty," Kling said. "This individual here is what that law was written for. He laid in wait, he had a loaded gun, he wore a vest. He ambushed my daughter, Vega and the other officer in that house."

PREVIOUSLY: After fatal shooting, Palm Springs police warn of scam fundraising

Vega appeared in at least one episode of "COPS." The Palm Springs police have been featured on the show multiple times, including the premiere of the 27th season in July 2014.

Memorial services for Vega and Zerebny on Tuesday are expected to draw law enforcement officers from around the country. Kling said he's already hearing that at least two agencies in North Dakota, where his other daughter lives, plan to send representatives.

The service and its expected crowd of thousands will be the largest show of support yet for the officers and their families.

A smaller gesture came over the weekend, along the three-miles of rural road near Hemet where Kling and his wife live. Neighbors had decorated the road, and the stop sign was festooned with more than a dozen blue balloons.

"And then along the way up our street," Kling said, "every mail box and fence post had signs saying how much they appreciated Lesley and the sacrifice she gave."

Reporter Barrett Newkirk be reached at (760)778-4767, barrett.newkirk@desertsun.com or on Twitter @barrettnewkirk.

INTERNET SOURCE: http://noprop62yesprop66.com/2016/10/family-murdered-officer-lesley-zerebny-supports-maintaining-death-penalty/

Family of Murdered Officer Lesley Zerebny Supports Maintaining The Death Penalty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2016

Contact: Bill Bradley (916) 213-5230

 

Father and Father-in- Law of Palm Springs Police Officer Lesley Zerebny Support Proposition 66 to Mend, Not End, California’s Death Penalty

PALM SPRINGS, CA – Today, the father and father-in- law of murdered Palm Springs police officer Lesley Zerebny called for Californian’s to support Proposition 66 and maintain the state death penalty for the worst of the worst criminal offenders. David Kling, Lesley’s father, and Dr. Matt Zerebny, Lesley’s father-in- law, made the following statement available to the public:

“Death row is reserved for the worst of the worst killers. These killers have murdered thousands of people including more than 40 police officers. Two more police officers, including our amazing daughter Lesley Zerebny and Jose ‘Gil’ Vega, were recently ambushed and murdered in the line of duty. While we will never have closure over the senseless death of our beautiful Lesley, their killer needs to be brought to justice. We are seeking justice and that will come in the form of change. Prop. 66 is that change. It will streamline the appeals process to ensure criminals sentenced to death will not wait for years for an appeals attorney to be appointed and it will limit unnecessary and repetitive appeals. We encourage Californians to vote Yes on Prop 66 to mend, not end the death penalty.”

Proposition 66 ensures that every murderer sentenced to death will have a special appeals lawyer assigned immediately through an expanded pool of available attorneys, protecting due process while addressing the needs of victims and the community for justice. In addition, death row inmates would also lose special privileges and will be required to pay restitution to victims’ families out of their prison work pay. 

Visit www.noprop62yesprop66.com for more facts about the initiative, as well as a full list of supporters including district attorneys, sheriffs, law enforcement organizations, elected officials, victims’ rights advocates, taxpayer advocacy groups and community leaders.

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