DeJon Packer: San Jose cop's fentanyl death shocks family as he's AGAINST drugs
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: A former college football star, who had joined San Jose Police Department a year ago, died because of “fentanyl toxicity”, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s revealed. Twenty four-year-old DeJon Packer’s body was found inside his Milpitas home on March 13.
Packer’s death has been probed by Milpitas police amid claims by his family members that he’s “heavily against” drugs. It has also been alleged that a night before his demise, he was partying with his colleagues. In a statement, San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata said: “The full details regarding Officer Packer’s death are still not known and are being investigated by the Milpitas Police Department and they have our full cooperation. This behavior is not something we condone, and we will continue to assist Milpitas PD with their investigation.”
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The statement from Mata continued: “Any allegation of illegal drug use by a San Jose Police officer is concerning. There are no free passes for police officers, and we will not make excuses. When an officer violates the public trust, on or off duty, I will hold them accountable…The public demands and I expect ethical behavior, accountability, and professionalism from all who wear the uniform.”
The chief also mentioned: “We need to be mindful of the fact that we are not immune to issues that plague society, in this case substance abuse. As humans we are not perfect, and mistakes will be made. Officer wellness is paramount and a priority at our agency,” before adding: “We have already scheduled substance abuse prevention skills training for our personnel, not just for themselves, but also for recognizing the signs for those around us, and how to get help. We will not waver from keeping our Officers well, not just physically but emotionally.”
Meanwhile, family members of Packer have said that his cause of death has shocked them as “he was heavily against it, as evidenced by his chosen profession.” They claimed, “It is our understanding that even the smallest trace of fentanyl is lethal and can cause harm, and our family will be closely following the Milpitas Police Department’s investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death.”
Family spokesperson Patrice Barrera added: “He joined the San Jose Police Department to make a difference in his community… Above all things, DeJon was special, brought good to the world and left a positive impact everywhere he went and on everyone he met. That is his legacy, not this.”
Packer's death has been moured by Spartan football players, San Jose police officers and his family and friends with Brent Brennan, the head football coach at San Jose State University, saying: “DeJon was a wonderful person and will forever be a part of the Spartan family. We miss him deeply and our thoughts are with his family.”
He added: “We all love De'Jon Packer and we will miss his infectious smile. He had this big smile, and was one of the most well-liked guys on our team.” Also, a statement from the San Jose State University football team read: “The San José State Football family has suffered a great loss.”