By Susannah Sudborough
masslive.com
BOSTON — Massachusetts State Police announced a list of ways it is reforming its training program on Thursday — seven months after a recruit was fatally injured during a training exercise at the agency’s academy.
The reforms include implementing changes to the State Police Academy training program following an in-depth review by academy staff, the division of the incoming class of recruits into two cohorts that will train at different times of the year and the appointment of a new head of the academy, State Police said in a press release.
The state law enforcement agency is also in the process of commissioning the International Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct “an independent assessment” of the school as a whole, State Police said.
“The Massachusetts State Police Academy plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of troopers to protect and serve our communities statewide. We are committed to ensuring our training environment fosters professionalism and excellence while prioritizing the health and well-being of our recruits,” State Police Superintendent Geoffrey Noble said in the release.
Why the agency is reforming its training program
The overhaul of the State Police Academy — which is located in New Braintree — is part of the agency’s response to the death of 25-year-old recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia on Sept. 13, 2024
The Worcester resident was fatally injured during a defensive tactics training in the school’s boxing ring. He was sworn in as a trooper hours before his death, allowing him to achieve a lifelong dream.
“We continue to mourn the loss of Trooper Delgado-Garcia and extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones,” Noble said in the release.
The state law enforcement agency continues to cooperate with an investigation into Delgado-Garcia’s death led by Attorney David Meier, State Police said in the release. Meier was appointed to the task by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell.
What we know about the changes to the police academy
While it is unclear what specific changes have been made to the State Police Academy’s curriculum, the agency said in the release that the school’s staff have completed “an hour-by-hour review of recruits’ experiences at the Academy to ensure all training fosters a supportive environment with the appropriate balance of high-intensity activities with periods of rest and recovery.”
The school’s boxing program was suspended following Delgado-Garcia’s death and remains defunct, State Police said.
The first of the two cohorts of recruits will begin training at the academy in May, the agency said. The second cohort’s start date is yet to be decided, but will likely be scheduled for later in the summer.
“This new structure will allow Academy instructors to better address the individual needs of each recruit, strengthen mentorship, and promote overall readiness,” the release reads.
State Police will evaluate the impact of these changes on the incoming recruit class and then determine whether they should be permanent, the agency said.
State Police also announced the appointment of Captain David Pinkham — a 20-year agency veteran — as the new head of the academy. Pinkham has a broad range of experience with investigative work, police management and standards and training functions, State Police said.
Additional reforms?
The State Police Academy may implement additional reforms in the future following a review of the school by the International Association of Chiefs of Police , State Police said. The association will be tasked with analyzing the academy’s programs, methods, attrition and injury rates, injury prevention and fitness standards, organizational culture and leadership, alignment with national police training standards and more.
The review will culminate in the creation of a list of “actionable” recommendations on how to improve the academy. State Police will share the association’s report and recommendations with the public when they become available, the agency said.
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