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About Project Blue Light - History

Project Blue Light began in 1988 when the surviving mother-in-law of a Philadelphia (PA) police officer killed in the line of duty told COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) that she would have two blue lights in her window for the holidays, one in memory of her son-in-law and one in memory of her daughter, the officer’s widow, who had been killed in a car crash that year. COPS adopted this idea as a way that everyone could honor the officers who serve and protect us while remembering those who have been killed in the line of duty. Project Blue Light has grown steadily as a way of remembering our departed law enforcement officers across America and beyond. The concept is a simple one. Place a single blue light in your window in memory of fallen officers. At this time of year, ornamental light fixtures, such as candlestick replicas, are easy to come by and serve this purpose well. Replace the (usually) white light bulb with a single blue bulb, and place it in a window where it will be seen. Most people won’t know its significance, but the ones to whom it matters most, will.

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Officer Jermaine A. Gibson, Cathedral City Police Department - EOW: March 18, 2011


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Officer Jermaine Gibson was killed in a high-speed chase after his patrol car left the road and collided with a tree.
Officer Gibson attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle at approximately 11:30 pm and gave chase after the suspect failed to pull over. His vehicle left the road and crashed in Palm Springs at approximately 11:55 pm. The suspect vehicle also crashed and two suspects were taken into custody. Officer Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight. Officer Gibson had been employed with the Cathedral City Police Department for approximately 18 months, and had been in law enforcement for approximately three years. He is survived by his wife and infant son.

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Project Blue Light

The Riverside County Sheriffs' Department is hosting the annual Project Blue Light ceremonies. The Palm Desert Project Blue Light ceremony will be held this Tuesday, November 29th at 6 pm. It will be at the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station located at 73-705 Gerald Ford Drive, Palm desert, CA 92211.

The second ceremony will be held on Monday, December 12th at 6pm, Downtown Riverside at the County Administrative Center, Board Chambers, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, CA 92501.

The public is welcome. Please show your support for our working law enforcement officers and for those who have paid the ultimate price. Project Blue Light reminds us that our officers are out working 24/7 and through the holidays.
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Officer Ryan P. Bonaminio, Riverside Police Department - EOW: November 7, 2010

20565Officer Ryan Bonaminio was shot and killed during a foot pursuit in Fairmount Park at 9:45 pm shortly after stopping the driver of a tractor trailer suspected in a hit-and-run collision. The driver fled into the park, with Officer Bonaminio in pursuit.  As Officer Bonaminio rounded a corner of a church he slipped and fell, and the suspect struck him on the head with a metal pipe and disarmed him. The suspect then shot Officer Bonaminio in the head twice despite the officer's pleas not to shoot. Officer Bonaminio succumbed to his wounds a short time later.  The suspected killer was arrested two days later. Officer Bonaminio served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army for four years, serving two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served the Riverside Police Department for four years and is survived by his parents, brother, and sister.

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Recent Donations

We recently received a donation from the neighbors and friends of  J.D. Purkiss, who recently passed away (September 14, 2011) and was a long time sheriff's department employee. His family suggested the donation be made to the RCPOMF in his name. Thank you for chosing to honor the memory of Riverside County's fallen heroes in this special way and honor a loved one's memory. Our condolences to the Purkiss family.

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RCPOMF Store

We still have past year's Law Ride pins for sale ($2), RCPOMF ball caps ($20), RCPOMF Foundation pins ($5). 

If you are in need of an item, please call Mike at (951) 515-1663.

Each order supports your Foundation!
 

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Riverside County Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation

The Riverside County Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation (RCPOMF) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which was incorporated in 2005.  The RCPOMF honors Riverside County's fallen Federal, State and local law enforcement officers killed in the Line of Duty while serving in Riverside County as determined by the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program, U.S. Department of Justice.

police_memorial1The RCPOMF is dedicated to the building, rebuilding, refurbishing and maintenance of law enforcement memorials throughout Riverside County. The Foundation honors each fallen officer, deputy and agent by keeping their memory alive and by providing our community with their individual story which chronicles their sacrifce and their surviving family's lifelong sacrifice.

The Foundation also assists with providing funds for conducting ceremonies and any needed equipment.

The RCPOMF provides monetary support for the surviving family in the event of an officer's Line of Duty death (LODD). The RCPOMF assisted families who's loved one was killed in the Line of Duty in 2010 and again in 2011 by presenting a check in the memory of their fallen officer. Long range plans include the development of a scholarship program to support the children survivors of Riverside County's LODD.
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The RCPOMF is supported by corporations, police association donations, governmental donations and individual sponsors. The Foundation currently sponsors a yearly Law Ride. The first Law Ride started in 2006 and was a huge success. The Law Ride is a motorcycle ride, which starts in Downtown Riverside and ends at a park or other location where riders are treated to a lunch, raffles and vendor displays.  Each of our Law Rides have been escorted by law enforcement officers, making this 75 to 100 mile ride especially enjoyable.  So far, the Law Rides have ended at the Deputy Kent Hintergardt Park (2006 and 2008), Lake Skinner (2009), Bogart Park in Cherry Valley (2010).  This year's ride will stop at beautiful Vail Lake in Temecula. The Law Rides have been attended by hundreds of motorcycle riders from all over California and recently riders from Arizona and Nevada have joined us as well. 

The foundation was formed to provide the community a conduit to our County's fallen. The Foundation's intent is for our community to better understand each officer's sacrifice, and how these brave men and women went to work each and every day, knowing they may be required to pay the ultimate price in order to keep their community safe. We owe much to these who gave so much, but asked for so little in return.

Please take the time to review each officer's story. Each are heroes- each deserve our respect. 

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