Latest news with #MassachusettsStatePoliceAcademy
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
25 Investigates: Family of fallen Mass. State Police recruit still waiting for answers
What exactly happened and why? Those questions still haunt the family of the Massachusetts State Police Academy recruit who died after a training exercise in September. Now 25 Investigates with speaking with Enrique Delgado Garcia's stepfather about the ongoing investigation into his death and how it sparked changes at the academy. 'It's been more than 8 months now and we still don't really know what happened,' Jose Ramon Perez-Garcia said in an interview with Boston 25's Kerry Kavanaugh, translated from Spanish. He says it's been a difficult wait for his family as the investigation into the death of his stepson continues. Delgado Garcia was 25 years old when he died after a boxing training exercise at the state police academy last September. Sources familiar with the investigation told 25 Investigates that he suffered broken bones, damaged or missing teeth, and a spinal injury. Sources say he was in the ring with someone else when he stumbled onto the mat but stood back up the fight was allowed to continue. He then collapsed following a blow to the head. Perez-Garcia said Delgado Garcia was someone who loved helping people. He loved being active and was frequently working out or running. He was at the academy with a long-term dream of becoming an attorney who could defend people's rights. 'A young man, just 25 years old, they shattered his dream,' Perez-Garcia said. The Massachusetts Attorney General, Andrea Campbell, appointed an independent investigator to examine the circumstances around how he died. On Wednesday, we learned the investigation is ongoing, and they could not provide further comment. Just this month, the Massachusetts State Police announced major academy reforms, including dividing the upcoming class into two smaller cohorts, appointing new academy leadership, and completing hour-by-hour review of the training curriculum a review of recruits' academy experience. Boxing remains a suspended activity. 25 Investigates also wanted to learn more about the recruits' experiences and culture at the MSP academy. Last October, we asked to review the exit interviews of people who quit the academy. The state asked for more than $176,000 fee to review the public records request. Boston 25 News did not pay that fee. MSP later stated the records were exempt from public records law. Kavanaugh asked Pérez-García if the changes at the academy are enough. He told Kavanaugh that 'the academy needs to change many of the ways it trains a person to be a cadet who's going to serve humanity or who's going to serve their community.' He added that the family does appreciate the steps taken so far. Pérez García said, 'It's all a process and you have to wait, because sometimes things happen very quickly, maybe they don't have a positive result. Let's hope there continues to be change.' Sadly, the family didn't realize the impact Delgado Garcia had on so many in the community until his funeral. They say people told family members they knew him from volunteering with kids or preparing meals, and helping people who speak Spanish navigate the district attorney's office in Worcester, where he worked. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
State police academy revises training plan in wake of Worcester recruit's death
The Massachusetts State Police announced changes in its training curriculum in response to the death last September of a Worcester-based recruit. 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
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Massachusetts State Police makes first reforms to training academy
BOSTON (WWLP) – A first round of reforms has been announced at the Massachusetts State Police Academy. 49 police recruits join the Springfield Police and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department It comes after a push for change after a recruit died during training last year. Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, died after being badly injured during a boxing training exercise. He sustained injuries such as missing teeth, a damaged skull, and a fractured neck. The boxing program is still suspended, NBC Boston states. Now, Massachusetts State Police say its making changes to make sure it doesn't happen again. The next class, starting this month at the academy, will be split into two to allow for more personal attention. Twenty-year department veteran David Pinkham will also take on a new role leading the academy. There will also be new hour-by-hour reviews to provide a better balance between training and rest. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
