Liberty Lake police sergeant died of self-inflicted gunshot, examiner says

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Wednesday that Liberty Lake police Sgt. Clint Gibson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Gibson, 41, was found dead in his personal vehicle just before 2 a.m. Friday in the 1000 block of West Francis Avenue. His SUV had left the road at a high speed and gone through two parking lots and some bushes. Gibson was off duty at the time.

Gibson was the only sergeant in the 10-man police department in Liberty Lake and served as the second in command, leaving a huge hole in the department personally and professionally. “It’s been hard,” said Liberty Lake police Chief Brian Asmus last week. “Not only was he a sergeant here, he was a friend of mine.”

Gibson served as the department’s firearms instructor, emergency vehicle operations course instructor and defensive tactics instructor. He was also a member of the regional Special Response Team, which is made up of police officers from several small towns in Spokane County. The officers meet monthly for training and mostly serve high-risk warrants.

“The community will grieve his loss,” Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson said last week.

Gibson was a 1991 graduate of Deer Park High School and earned a degree in criminal justice from Spokane Community College.

He worked as a reserve officer for the Spokane Police Department before working full time for the Pullman and Colfax police departments. He had been with the Liberty Lake Police Department since 2002 and was promoted to sergeant in 2007.

He was instrumental in bringing innovative ideas to the department, said Asmus, including the bike patrol program. He was the recipient of the Chief’s Award three times.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Erin, and four teenage children.

A funeral service is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at Valley Real Life Church, 1831 S. Barker Road. A fund has been set up at STCU branches to benefit his children.