Last week law enforcement within the Central District of California suffered multiple tragedies as peace officers were victimized by senseless violence. The murders of Sergeant Steve Owen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny of the Palm Springs Police Department serve as a dark reminder of the dangers that police officers face every minute of every day that they are on duty. These three brave officers made the ultimate sacrifice while making the community safer for all of us. Our community is diminished by their absence, but their examples should inspire all of us to work harder to achieve a better society, one worthy of their memories.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and the Department of Justice offer our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the families and loved ones of the slain officers. They will not be forgotten.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
