Packer was just 24 years old. 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 drug abuse by a San Jose police officer is worrying. There are no free police passes and we will not be justified.” The above video is from a previous report. Here is the original story A San Jose police officer was found dead at his home in South Bay over the weekend. The officer is said to be the 24-year-old former San Jose State footballer DeJon Packer, a graduate of the SJPD academy in 2021. Milpitas police tell ABC7 News that Packer was off duty when he was found dead at his home Sunday afternoon. RELATED: Man from San Jose arrested for double knife that killed his father and mother, according to police “It’s a difficult day here at the police station today for many of us,” SJPD Sgt. said Christian Camarillo. “Everyone is devastated for Pack, for his family and for our football family here, because he had a huge impact on everyone he met,” said SJSU Football coach Brent Brennan. Packer was a local kid who had an impact on 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. “It was fantastic on the pitch,” Brennan said. “He was a guy who walked here from San Jose City College and won a scholarship. He was always on wall 3.0. He did everything right all the time.” The State of San Jose emphasizes life “beyond football” and Packer took his lessons seriously when deciding what to do after graduating from SJSU. He joined the San Jose Police Department, where he graduated with the academy’s pandemic class in 2021. “Being a police officer serving the community spoke to him, which is not surprising,” Brennan said. “He always volunteered for the promotion of the community and always dealt with it that way.” “We have a lot of people here mourning yesterday, today and it will be for a while,” Sgt said. said Camarillo. “This officer was very nice.” Our police family is devastated by the sudden loss of Officer DeJon Packer who died last night. DeJon graduated from the police academy just a year ago. He was a favorite of the San Jose community and was a famous former SJSU footballer. pic.twitter.com/qrTQZGkDoJ – San Jose Police Relations (@SJPD_PIO) March 14, 2022 My heart goes out to the family and many friends of @SanJosePD’s Officer DeJon Packer. DeJon graduated from Gunderson High School, played football for @SJSU, and after graduation, served his community as a police officer. (1/2) https://t.co/Afj7JPvCdE – Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) March 14, 2022 DeJon Packer was 24 years old, a life that many close to him said was soon lost. “Being so young and the good he already did in the world, not having it here and in San Jose is a catastrophic loss for all of us,” Brennan said. The investigation is still ongoing by the Milpita Police and no cause of death has been announced. The SJPD has made it clear that despite reports on social media, there is no link between the death of the SJPD officer and a double stabbing in San Jose at the weekend. If you’re using the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
