The Massachusetts State Police has suspended full-contact boxing training for recruits following the tragic death of a trainee. This decision comes as the department, established in 1865 as the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the United States, grapples with safety concerns in its training program.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a 25-year-old recruit from Worcester, the second-largest city in New England, lost his life on September 13, 2024. The incident occurred a day after participating in a boxing exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree, a small town with less than 1,000 residents, located approximately 130 kilometers west of Boston.
During the exercise, Delgado-Garcia wore boxing gloves and headgear, equipment that became mandatory in amateur boxing in 1984 but was removed for male boxers in international competitions in 2013. Despite these precautions, he required urgent medical attention and was rushed to the hospital, where he subsequently passed away.
The exact cause and manner of Delgado-Garcia's death have not been disclosed. However, family members reported that he suffered broken teeth and a neck fracture. In response to this incident, Colonel John Mawn Jr., head of the state police, has initiated an investigation by the detective unit assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney's office.
Due to a potential conflict of interest, as Delgado-Garcia previously worked as a victim witness advocate in the Worcester County District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. has announced plans to appoint an independent agency to conduct the investigation. The Massachusetts State Police, which comprises approximately 2,100 sworn officers and 400 civilian staff members, has pledged full cooperation with the investigatory authorities.
In addition to the external investigation, the department's Division of Standards and Training has begun a comprehensive review of the Academy's defensive tactics program. This review encompasses safety protocols, training methods, curriculum, and medical considerations. The department is also seeking feedback from recruits, instructors, and other relevant parties.
The boxing training has been a component of the Academy's 25-week, paramilitary-style curriculum, which is described as both physically and mentally demanding. This approach is common in many police academies across the United States, where training typically ranges from 13 to 36 weeks, with an average duration of 21 weeks.
Delgado-Garcia, born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States since 1898, moved to Worcester as a young boy. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University, an institution founded in 1838 as the first public co-educational college in America without barriers to race, gender, or economic class. Criminal justice remains one of the most popular majors for aspiring law enforcement officers in the United States.
"Enrique was an exceptional young man who devoted himself to the service of others. He had always dreamed of becoming a state trooper and to be someone big who made a difference in the lives of the people in his community."
Delgado-Garcia joined the state police training program in April 2024, following a rigorous selection process that typically involves written exams, physical fitness tests, and background checks. His class was scheduled to graduate on October 9, 2024. In a poignant turn of events, he was administered the oath of office by state police in the final hours of his life, a ceremony that dates back to the agency's founding and includes a pledge to uphold the state's constitution.
A funeral service for Delgado-Garcia has been scheduled for September 30, 2024. As the Massachusetts State Police Academy, one of the few in the nation conducting live-in training for recruits, continues its review, the incident has reignited debates about the use of full-contact training in law enforcement and the balance between realistic preparation and trainee safety.