By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• The Massachusetts State Police Training Academy has postponed the start of its next recruit class while implementing safety and training reforms following a recruit’s death in 2024.
• Colonel Geoffrey Noble said the delay will remain until priority recommendations from an independent report are in place.
• The independent review identified more than 100 recommendations to improve training and wellness programs at the academy.
• Trooper recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia died after sustaining injuries during academy training exercises in September 2024.
• Some changes, including the suspension of boxing and head-strike activities, are already underway.
BOSTON, MA — The Massachusetts State Police Training Academy has closed its doors to future recruits as it works to implement a slate of reforms recommended after the death of a recruit, officials announced this week.
Col. Geoffrey Noble, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, said the next scheduled recruit class will be delayed indefinitely until “priority recommendations” from an independent review are fully adopted.
The review, conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police at the request of state leadership, proposed more than 100 changes to academy policies, curriculum, leadership oversight and wellness supports to improve recruit safety and training quality.
Officials have already taken some steps, including permanently ending boxing and other head-strike activities that were part of defensive tactics training, and planning to hire a civilian academy director and revise stress training protocols.
The reforms stem from the September 2024 death of 25-year-old recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who suffered severe injuries during a boxing training exercise and later died at a hospital.
Authorities have indicated that implementation of the changes could take several years, and additional updates will be subject to oversight by outside monitors to ensure compliance and enhanced recruit safety.