The Massachusetts attorney general has appointed a veteran trial attorney to lead an independent investigation into the death of a state police recruit during a training exercise. Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, of Worcester, died at a hospital after participating in a boxing exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree. The state police have suspended full-contact boxing training activities for recruits until further notice. Attorney General Andrea Campbell named David Meier to lead the investigation, citing his experience in death investigations and ensuring independence and integrity in the matter.
Governor Maura Healey expressed the need for answers for Delgado-Garcia’s family and the public, instructing the new head of the state police to review academy training and policy practices to ensure they serve the officers effectively. The cause of Delgado-Garcia’s death has not been released, but family members reported broken teeth and a neck fracture. The academy’s defensive tactics program is being comprehensively reviewed to ensure that the training is relevant and delivered safely and effectively to aspiring troopers. The review includes safety protocols, training methods, curriculum, and medical considerations while seeking feedback from recruits and instructors.
Delgado-Garcia was described as an exceptional young man who devoted himself to serving others and dreamed of becoming a state trooper to make a difference in his community. Born in Puerto Rico, he moved to Worcester as a child and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University. The boxing training exercise that led to his death was part of the academy’s paramilitary-style curriculum, designed to be challenging but not impossible. Delgado-Garcia’s class is set to graduate on October 9, and he had taken an oath of office by the state police shortly before his death.
The state police responded to Delgado-Garcia’s death by suspending full-contact boxing training activities among recruits and requesting an investigation by the agency’s detective unit. Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. intends to name an independent investigator due to a conflict of interest, as Delgado-Garcia had worked in his office as a victim witness advocate before joining the training program. The Division of Standards and Training is reviewing the academy’s defensive tactics program to ensure the delivery of necessary skills to future troopers safely and effectively.
The funeral service for Delgado-Garcia has been scheduled for Saturday, allowing his family, friends, and colleagues to mourn his untimely passing. Governor Healey’s call for an independent review of the academy’s training programs and policies reflects the need for transparency and accountability in addressing the circumstances surrounding Delgado-Garcia’s death. The investigation led by David Meier will have complete authority to uncover the facts, evidence, and course of events that led to the recruit’s tragic demise. The state police are cooperating with investigatory authorities and urging a swift appointment of an independent investigator by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
