Mass. State Police recruit dies after training exercise
by: Carl Sisson
WORCESTER, Mass. (WPRI) — The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the death of a Massachusetts State Police recruit.
Investigators say 25-year old Enrique Delgado-Garcia died after becoming unresponsive during a boxing training exercise.
He was hit in the head, which knocked him out for ten minutes.
Delgado-Garcia was then rushed to the hospital, but sadly died.
A former academy instructor says that the boxing exercise is something that happens later on in training, to help prepare recruits if something like that ever arose.
“The last thing we would want is for a recruit, graduate and go out into the real world and have never been in a confrontation while they’ve now been issued a firearm, pepper spray, a baton,” said Todd McGee, a former MSP academy instructor.
“The ultimate objective is that they can test themselves, work through some type of confrontation.”
Delgado-Garcia was sworn in on Friday, from his hospital bed.
He will soon be brought to the medical examiner, before being laid to rest.
“I’m heartbroken about the loss of Massachusetts State Police Trainee Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who had committed himself to a career protecting the people of Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healy in a statement.
“He was a beloved member of his academy class, known for his compassion and devotion to service. This is a devastating time for all who knew and loved him, and we are holding Enrique’s family and his State Police community in our hearts.”