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Mass. State Police training overhauled in wake of 2024 recruit death
MSP announced Thursday updated measures at its training academy starting with the next group of recruits.
Massachusetts State Police announced Thursday updated measures for its training academy for the next recruited cohort, months after the death of a newly admitted trooper during a boxing session.
“The Massachusetts State Police Academy plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of troopers to protect and serve our communities statewide,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble, superintendent of the State Police, in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring our training environment fosters professionalism and excellence while prioritizing the health and well-being of our recruits.”
Noble assumed his role weeks after the death of 25-year-old Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who suffered serious injuries while boxing as part of a police training exercise in September. Following that incident, the public and state officials alike called for better precautions and safety for police training.
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The cause and manner of Delgado-Garcia’s death remain unclear. The statement specified that the boxing program is still suspended and that MSP will continue to cooperate with the Attorney General’s independent investigator, David Meier.
The first large change, ahead of the arrival of the 91st recruit training troop, will be to divide the academy class into two smaller groups, with the first trained in May and the second trained at a later date in summer, according to the statement.
Noble appointed Captain David Pinkham to serve as the commandant of the academy. The 20-year veteran has management, investigative, and standards and training experience in the field, according to the statement.
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Several aspects of the State Police’s academy will be assessed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, who were commissioned by the organization.
MSP faced a historic rate of new recruit dropouts in 2023, with NBC10 Boston reporting that 46% of new troopers resigned from the program. The review will look at the attrition rates over the last 10 academy classes and review causes for departure and demographic disparities.
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The assessment will also review “the relevance, efficacy, and safety of the paramilitary training model” which has been criticized for focusing too much on “stress resiliency” and causing many injuries, as reported by The Boston Globe.
“The independent evaluation is a vital investment in the future of Massachusetts law enforcement, helping us to identify areas for growth and ensure a strong foundation of advanced training to support the development of highly skilled, community-focused troopers,” Noble said in the statement.
Outside of the training academy, the State Police has been embroiled in controversy over the last few years. Recently, officers have been convicted for their involvement in an overtime fraud ring, and others pled guilty to a conspiracy to give passing test scores to certain commercial driver’s license applicants regardless of their performance.
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