Autopsy Shows Fentanyl Overdose Killed Rookie San Jose Police Officer De'Jon Packer
San Jose police rookie officer De’Jon Packer died of a fentanyl drug overdose, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s office announced Saturday (April 30), CBS San Francisco reported.
Unanswered questions remain surrounding the death of Packer, 24, who was found dead at his Milpitas home in March. The Milpitas police still have not released details about its investigation into the untimely death of the well-liked San Jose officer.
In a statement, San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata pledged his department’s “full cooperation” with the Milpitas investigators, adding, “this behavior is not something we condone.”
“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,” Mata’s statement continued. “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.”
Milpitas police found Packer unresponsive on March 13 while conducting a welfare check, NBC Bay Area reports. Sources told the local NBC station that Packer had attended a party with fellow officers the night before he died. Consequently, police officials are reportedly conducting an internal criminal investigation of those officers, which was not immediately confirmed by the San Jose Police Department.
Packer was a San Jose State University running back who played 26 games over three seasons. He’s remembered for scoring the winning touchdown in the 2019 upset victory against the heavily-favored Arkansas Razorbacks, marking the team’s first win against an SEC opponent.
“He had this big smile and was one of the most well-liked guys on our team. Just a really, really special young man and was in just such a great place in his life," SJSU head football coach Brent Brennan told NBC Bay Area on the day after Packer died.
