Mass State Police says it’s implementing training reforms and appointing new Academy leadership after a 25-year-old recruit died following a boxing exercise last year.
The State Police Academy’s boxing program remains suspended after the death of Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia — who died last September after suffering a “medical crisis” during a boxing exercise at the New Braintree Academy.
Mass State Police in its announcement about training reforms said the agency continues to cooperate with the independent investigation into the recruit’s death.
“We continue to mourn the loss of Trooper Delgado-Garcia and extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones,” Col. Geoffrey Noble, superintendent of Mass State Police, said in a statement. “We remain dedicated to ensuring our Academy’s programs and training practices uphold the highest standards of safety while preparing our recruits to serve with excellence and distinction.”
The new measures ahead of the next Recruit Training Troop include dividing the upcoming class into two smaller groups of recruits, appointing new Academy leadership, and completing an hour-by-hour review of the training curriculum.
Also, the agency will commission the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to conduct an independent assessment of the State Police Academy.
One of the Academy classes will begin in May, and the other will begin later this summer. MSP said this new structure will allow Academy instructors to better address the individual needs of each recruit, strengthen mentorship, and promote overall readiness.
“These new measures, including the IACP’s assessment, will enhance our training model, reduce attrition, and prepare troopers to meet the demands of modern policing,” Noble said in a statement.
“The independent evaluation is a vital investment in the future of Massachusetts law enforcement, helping us to identify areas for growth and ensure a strong foundation of advanced training to support the development of highly skilled, community-focused troopers,” the MSP leader added.
Noble elevated the role of Academy Commandant from the rank of Detective Lieutenant to Captain. He has appointed Capt. David Pinkham, a 20-year veteran, to serve as the new Commandant of the Academy. In this role, he will oversee the selection of teaching staff for the upcoming Recruit Training Troop.
Academy staff have also completed an hour-by-hour review of recruits’ experiences to help ensure the training has an appropriate balance of high-intensity activities with periods of rest and recovery.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police will assess the Academy and provide recommendations based on their experience in training and law enforcement. The review will focus on: training programs and methods; attrition and injury rates; injury prevention and fitness standards; organizational culture and leadership; and alignment with national standards.
“The comprehensive evaluation of the Academy’s programming, training methodologies, and organizational culture will provide actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing safety, improving recruit retention, and ensuring sustained excellence,” MSP said.
The investigation into the recruit’s death would have normally gone to the Worcester DA’s Office, but DA Joseph Early Jr. recused himself as Delgado-Garcia had worked in the office as a victim witness advocate before joining Mass State Police.
Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell appointed former prosecutor David Meier, a partner at Todd & Weld LLP, to investigate the death instead.
Delgado-Garcia was just weeks away from graduation when the tragedy occurred. He received his trooper badge and the oath of office from his UMass Memorial Medical Center hospital bed in the final hours of his life.