SAN FRANCISCO — A 30-year-old San Francisco police recruit who collapsed during a high-intensity training drill died from massive organ failure caused by extreme physical exertion, according to a newly released report from the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Jon-Marques Psalms died on Aug. 22, two days after suffering a medical emergency during a training exercise at the San Francisco Police Academy, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The exercise was part of a defensive tactics drill meant to simulate hand-to-hand combat using padded protective gear.
The cause of death is listed as “sequelae of rhabdomyolysis in the setting of a high-intensity training exercise.” The manner of death is classified as an accident, according to the report.
The report states Psalms suffered multi-organ failure, including liver and kidney failure, along with internal bleeding. He was 14 weeks into a 34-week police academy program, having joined Recruit Class No. 386 in May. Psalms, a Southern California native and former tech industry worker in the Bay Area, had recently changed careers to pursue law enforcement.
Psalms’ family has raised more than $39,000 toward a $45,000 fundraising goal to cover funeral costs and a second autopsy. In a public statement, his brother said the family has lingering questions about the exercise and its risks.
The department said the training was mandated by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Cal/OSHA is investigating the incident as it does with all workplace-related deaths, and SFPD has launched an internal investigation.
