Endicott College Sgt. Jeremy Cole To Be Remembered In Beverly Services

BEVERLY, MA — A law enforcement walk-through and public wake will be held on Monday in remembrance of the Endicott College police officer killed in a wrong-way highway crash last week.

The walk-through is set for Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Campbell Funeral Home on Cabot Street in Beverly with a public wake to follow from 2 to 8 p.m. for Sgt. Jeremy Cole, the Exeter NH officer who was driving home from his shift on the Beverly campus on Thanksgiving Eve when he was killed in a collision with a wrong-way driver on I-95 in Newbury shortly before midnight.

"To the approximately 1,000 people who attended a vigil for Sgt. Cole on Tuesday night, to the thousands who have offered condolences and thoughts online and in person, thank you," Endicott Police Chief Kerry Ramsdell said in announcing the services. "Your thoughts and support have meant the world to our department over these past few days.

"I encourage everyone who knew Sgt. Cole to continue sharing stories about him. He was a wonderful man, loving father, proud family man and a protector of our campus. We miss him dearly."

Police said Cole was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash. The driver, Keoma Duarte of New Bedford, pled guilty to motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence, and other charges at a virtual arraignment in Newburyport District Court on Tuesday.

• Wrong-Way Driver Charged In Highway Death Of Endicott College Police Sergeant Jeremy Cole

Members of law enforcement are asked to arrive at the funeral home by noon, and to park at the Living Hope Church of the Nazarene, 556 Cabot St., Beverly, and at Saint John's Church, 552 Cabot St., Beverly.

Ramsdell said the Endicott College Police Department would like to offer a special thank you to the Massachusetts State Police and the Beverly Police Department.

"Both departments have been instrumental in helping to plan funeral services and the law enforcement walkthrough," she said. "The department would also like to thank the Beverly Fire Department, theEssex County Sheriff's Department, the Salem Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies for their assistance during this difficult time."

Cole was a 15-year veteran of the Endicott police force who was known for his unwavering commitment to student safety and well-being. In 2021, Cole helped save the life of a softball coach who had gone into cardiac arrest and was awarded the prestigious Lifesaving Award from the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, along with Endicott Officer Sean Gannon.

"This act of bravery was just one example of the selflessness and care that defined Jeremy's service to Endicott," Endicott College President StevenR. DiSalvo said.

Cole's memory was celebrated on the Beverly campus on Monday when more than 1,000 students and educators attended the remembrance vigil upon returning from the Thanksgiving break.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)