The Massachusetts State Police recruit who died Thursday after a “medical crisis” during a training exercise was sworn in as an officer in his final hours.
Massachusetts State Police administered the oath of office to Enrique Delgado-Garcia as friends and family surrounded the 90th Recruit Training Troop member, an MSP spokesman said Saturday.
Two civilians working for the Massachusetts State Police, who legally served as commissioners, administered the oath and placed the Trooper Badge on Delgado-Garcia, MSP said.
Delgado-Garcia became “unresponsive during a defensive tactics training session” at the MSP Academy in New Braintree on Thursday. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died on Friday.
Delgado-Garcia was previously a victim witness advocate for the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
“Enrique was a fine young man who dedicated himself to the service of others as a member of the 90th Recruit Training Troop and in his former role as a Victim Witness Advocate with the Worcester County Prosecutor’s Office. The Massachusetts State Police mourns the tragic loss of trainee Enrique Delgado-Garcia and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. They have the full measure of our support and concern and they remain integral members of our State Police Family,” said State Police Col. John E. Mawn Jr. “In his short time with the State Police, Enrique demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for learning and a desire to provide excellent police service to the people of Massachusetts. He immediately impressed his classmates and the Academy staff. By all accounts, Enrique possessed and demonstrated all of the qualities that would have made him an outstanding officer: kindness and compassion, dedication, commitment, a willingness to work hard to better himself, and a strong desire to help others.”
A spokesperson for the Worcester County Prosecutor’s Office says they are investigating the matter.
According to law enforcement expert Todd McGhee, he was the defense tactics coordinator for the Mass State Police from 1998 to 2001.
““The defensive tactics program itself is about 40-50 hours of training. That’s where recruits get their handcuff training, baton training, OC spray training, empty-hand tactics and the use-of-force continuum,” McGhee said.
McGhee said Delgado-Garcia was injured in the boxing program. He said the program was adopted when he was the defensive coordinator, with controls in place to prevent these types of injuries. He said an internal investigation will reveal what really happened.
“My gut feeling tells me that this wasn’t just an isolated incident and that a recruit got hit by a lucky shot and all the damage was caused by a lucky shot. I think there’s more to it,” he said.
He said he thinks changes will happen.
“I expect this incident is not an isolated incident, but a combination of previous incidents. There are no injuries from recruit training, but it’s just the nature of the Mass State Police that has had so many different incidents over the years. I think this will be viewed as just another incident,” McGhee said.
He’s referring to incidents like 2023, when a recruit was hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself in the leg, and 2022, when multiple trainees were injured after performing unauthorized bear crawls that resulted in blisters. Four troopers were reassigned after that incident.
The Academy has struggled with injuries to recruits over the years, prompting reforms.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police trainee who dedicated himself to a career protecting the people of Massachusetts,” Gov. Healey said in a statement. “He was a beloved member of his academy class, known for his compassion and dedication to service. This is a devastating time for all who knew and loved him, and we hold Enrique’s family and his State Police community in our hearts.”
In 2023, a recruit was hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself in the lower leg during a training exercise.
In 2022, multiple trainees were injured at the Academy after conducting an “unauthorized” exercise. Four troopers were transferred as a result.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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