EAST FALMOUTH, Mass. — A state investigation into the East Falmouth Police Academy has led to the termination of its director, coordinator, and five instructors after findings revealed widespread mistreatment of recruits, including bullying and unsafe training conditions, CBS Boston reported.
The Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), which oversees police training across Massachusetts, launched the investigation in February following complaints from multiple police departments. Concerns included injuries to recruits and damage to their equipment, according to the report.
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The academy’s now-former director, Christopher Donelan, reportedly told investigators he wanted to subject student officers to a “shock and awe” training style. That approach, investigators concluded, created a hostile and unsafe environment that sent two recruits to the hospital, one with a sprained ankle and another suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. Neither incident was reported to the state as required.
One training exercise in early February forced recruits to stand outdoors in freezing temperatures before sunrise while loud music blared and a police cruiser circled with its lights and sirens on, according to the report. Staff splashed water onto the students during the drill.
Weeks later, student officers were made to crawl and run drills up and down a hill in near-freezing weather without cold-weather gear.
Other allegations include recruits being denied restroom access, leading some to use shower stalls, and an incident in which staff dumped personal belongings in front of the class. In that instance, a female recruit’s underwear was displayed, with instructors allegedly making inappropriate comments in front of her peers.
In a statement, MPTC Executive Director Col. Rick Rathbun called the findings “unacceptable and inconsistent” with the agency’s values. He confirmed that the staff members involved were suspended and later dismissed, and that instructor certifications were revoked as appropriate.
