State police academy revises training plan in wake of Worcester recruit's death
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, collapsed and later died of injuries he suffered while participating in a boxing match, part of the Massachusetts State Police Academy training curriculum.
An independent attorney, David Meier, a partner at the Boston firm of Todd & Weld LLC., was assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatality. The Telegram & Gazette reached out to Meier for comment on the changes by the law enforcement organization. However, the calls were not immediately returned.
In a release that outlines the changes, which include the continued suspension of the boxing program, State Police Superintendent Geoffrey D. Noble expressed his condolences regarding Delgado-Garcia's death.
'We continue to mourn the loss of Trooper Delgado-Garcia,' Noble said in the statement, adding that the agency remains 'dedicated to ensuring our Academy's program and training practices uphold the highest standards of safety while preparing our recruits to serve with excellence and distinction.'
Noble said he believes the new measures will enhance the agency's training model, help reduce attrition and prepare troopers to meet the demands of modern policing. Changes include contracting with an independent agency to assess the entirety of the agency's training program to ensure it meets modern policing standards.
One of the most basic changes announced by the agency will ensure recruits are monitored on a more personal, one-to-one basis by the academy administration and staff.
To achieve this more personal relationship between recruits and staff, the department will break the incoming class into two cohorts — one starting this month, the second cohort scheduled to start during the summer.
This separation into cohorts is expected to enhance the review process of each individual recruit and their experiences to better meet their needs, strengthen mentorship and promote their overall readiness to join the ranks of the state police. The staff will ensure that the curriculum fosters a supportive environment with the appropriate balance of high-intensity activities counterbalanced by the appropriate rest and recovery time.
'We are committed to ensuring our training environment fosters professionalism and excellence while prioritizing the health and well-being of our recruits,' Noble said.
The superintendent assigned Capt. David Pinkham, a 20-year veteran of the agency, to the command of the academy. The new commander will be in charge of overseeing the selection of the teaching staff.
The agency has contracted with the International Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct a formal, independent assessment of the academy and to provide recommendations that will enhance the training curriculum:
Review of the existing training will include an assessment of the academy's physical fitness demands and the overall preparation of recruits, classroom instruction and scenario-based training methods.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police is tasked with determining whether the current paramilitary training model used by the agency is relevant, efficient and safe; and how the curriculum relates to modern policing roles and responsibilities.
The group will assess whether the curriculum aligns with modern policing methods and societal demands.
Included in the review process is an investigation into the last 10 recruit classes to determine the suitability and preparation of the applicants. It will also delve into dropout rates and their causes, taking into account gender, race and other demographic factors to determine what drives them.
The independent agency will assess its physical fitness standards and review whether the physical demands placed on recruits are pertinent with the demands placed on troopers on a day-to-day basis.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police will assess the costs and benefits of communal living arrangements on recruits' mental and physical health, and their overall performance in the academy. The assessment process will follow the recruits past graduation into their service as troopers.
The group is also tasked to determine whether academy staff is creating a safe and professional training environment, review instructor oversight and accountability and what recourses are available to recruits in cases of instructor misconduct and unsafe practices.
Finally, the International Association of Chiefs of Police will compare the working of the academy against national and international models used by other agencies.
This independent review, Noble is confident, will provide actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing the safety of the program, improve recruit retention and ensure 'sustained excellence.' The agency, Noble said in the release, will 'share the findings publicly when it becomes available.'
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts state police revises training after Delgado-Garcia's death
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