Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District will add the names of Riverside County Sheriff's Deputies Michael Haugen and Brett Harris to the Officer Lesley Zerebny First Responders Memorial Wall during a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2024. The Wall is in Diamond Valley Lake Community Park, 1806 Angler Ave., Hemet.

The Wall commemorates any first responder who lost their life on duty who was born, lived or served in the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District service area, which includes Hemet, San Jacinto, Winchester, French Valley, Aguanga and a portion of Menifee.

Deputy Haugen lost his life January 5, 1997, when he and his partner were ambushed and gunned down while responding to a call. Deputy Haugen lived in San Jacinto.

Deputy Harris lost his life May 13, 2023, as the result of a crash while responding to a call. Deputy Harris both lived and served in the Valley-Wide service area.

The Board of Directors of Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District commissioned the construction of the first responders dedicatory wall in honor and commemoration of Officer Lesley Zerebny, of Hemet, who had her life taken in the line of duty of Oct. 8, 2016, while working for the Palm Springs Police Department. The wall was dedicated on Oct. 14, 2022. A plaque bearing Officer Zerebny’s name also will be added to the wall during the ceremony.

The May 17 ceremony is free, and the public is invited to attend.