'True Hero': Endicott Police Sergeant Remembered At Wake, Procession

BEVERLY, MA — Endicott College students and staff, Beverly residents and North Shore law enforcement were able to gather once more to remember a "true hero" during a police procession and public wake for Sgt. Jeremy Cole on Monday.

Cole, a 15-year veteran of the department from Exeter, NH, was killed the night before Thanksgiving when police said a wrong-way driver crashed into him on I-95 in Newbury and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A law enforcement walk and public wake were held at the Campbell Funeral Home on Cabot Street in Beverly on Monday.

"Today, we came together as a community to honor and remember Sergeant Jeremy Cole, a beloved member of the Endicott College Police Department," Beverly police posted on social media. "The procession was a testament to his dedication, bravery, and the lasting impact he made on all who knew him.

"Thank you to all the police officers and firefighters who marched and everyone who lined the streets, paid their respects, and supported his family, friends, and the Endicott Police Department during this difficult time.

"Sgt. Cole's legacy will live on in our hearts, and he will never be forgotten. We ask that you continue to keep his family, loved ones, and the Endicott Police Department in your thoughts as we mourn the loss of a true hero."

Approximately 1,000 students, staff and friends attended a vigil on the Endicott campus when they returned from Thanksgiving break last Monday.

"I encourage everyone who knew Sgt. Cole to continue sharing stories about him," Endicott Police Chief Kerry Ramsdell said. "He was a wonderful man, loving father, proud family man and a
protector of our campus.

"We miss him dearly."

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 Steven R. DiSalvo said.

The other driver in the crash, 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 last week.

(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.)