SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) – DeJon Packer, a San Jose rookie and former San Jose football star who died at his home in Milpitas last month, has died of “fentanyl toxicity,” Santa Clara Medical Court has confirmed. in front of ABC7 News.
Packer was only 24 years old.
The San Jose police chief says the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated by Milpitas police.
In a statement, Chief Mata promised responsibility, saying:
“Any allegation of illicit drug use by a San Jose police officer is alarming. There are no free passes for police officers and we will not make excuses.”
The video above is from a previous report. The original story follows
A San Jose police officer was found dead at his home over the weekend in South Bay. The officer is said to be the 24-year-old former San Jose footballer DeJon Packer, who graduated from the SJPD Academy in 2021.
Milpitas police told ABC7 News that Packer was not at work when he was found dead at his home on Sunday afternoon.
RELATED: A man from San Jose was arrested in a double stabbing, in which his father was killed, his mother was injured, police said
“Today is a difficult day here at the police station today for many of us,” said an SJPD sergeant. Said Christian Camarillo.
“Everyone is heartbroken for Pack, his family and our football family here, because he had a huge impact on everyone he met,” said SJSU Football head coach Brent Brennan.
Packer was a local child who influenced his community in many ways.
After a successful football career at Gunderson High School and San Jose City College, Packer joined the Spartan program.
Coach Brennan said he was a leader on and off the field.
“He was fantastic on the football field,” Brennan said. “He was a man who went here from San Jose City College and won a scholarship. It was always on the wall 3.0. He did everything right all the time.
The state of San Jose emphasizes a life of “beyond football,” and Packer took the lessons to heart when deciding what to do after graduating from SJSU.
He joined the San Jose Police Department, where he graduated with the pandemic class of the academy in 2021.
“Being a police officer serving the community speaks to him, which is not surprising,” Brennan said. “He’s always been a volunteer to work with the community and he’s always been involved that way.”
“We have a lot of people here grieving yesterday, today, and they will be here for a while,” said the sergeant. Said Camarillo. “This officer was really liked.”
Our police family is devastated by the sudden loss of Officer DeJon Packer, who died last night.
DeJon graduated from police academy just a year ago. He was loved by the San Jose community and was a well-known former SJSU player. pic.twitter.com/qrTQZGkDoJ
– Media Relations of the San Jose Police (@SJPD_PIO) March 14, 2022
My heart breaks for the family and many friends of @SanJosePD officer John Packer. DeJon graduated from Gunderson High School, played football for @SJSU and served in the community as a police officer after graduation. (1/2) https://t.co/Afj7JPvCdE
– Sam Licardo (@sliccardo) March 14, 2022
DeJon Packer was 24 years old, a life that many close to him said was lost too soon.
“Being so young and the good he’s already shown the world, not having it here and in San Jose is a devastating loss for all of us,” Brennan said.
The investigation is still ongoing by the police in Milpitas and the cause of death has not been announced.
The SJPD has made it clear that despite social media reports, there is no link between the death of the SJPD employee and the double stabbing in San Jose over the weekend.
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