The Massachusetts State Police have temporarily halted full-contact boxing training for recruits following the death of a trainee, according to a police spokesperson.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, from Worcester, passed away on September 13, one day after participating in a boxing exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree, located about 80 miles west of Boston.
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During the exercise, Delgado-Garcia was equipped with boxing gloves and protective headgear. When the medical team determined he needed urgent care, he was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
While the cause and manner of his death have not been disclosed, Delgado-Garcia’s family informed reporters that he sustained broken teeth and a neck fracture.
“The Academy has suspended full-contact boxing training between recruits until further notice,” stated Tim McGuirk, a spokesperson for the state police department, in a statement released Sunday night.
On the day of the incident, Colonel John Mawn Jr., head of the state police, requested an investigation by the agency’s detective unit in conjunction with the Worcester County District Attorney’s office, McGuirk explained.
Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. announced last week that another agency would conduct the investigation due to a conflict of interest—Delgado-Garcia had previously worked as a victim witness advocate in Early’s office before joining the state police training program in April.
“The department is fully cooperating with investigative authorities and urges the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to appoint an independent investigator as soon as possible,” McGuirk added.
In response, Colonel Mawn has also tasked the state police’s Division of Standards and Training with conducting a thorough review of the Academy’s defensive tactics program, which includes boxing training. McGuirk noted that the review remains ongoing and aims to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the training for future troopers.
The review evaluates safety protocols, training methods, curriculum, and health considerations, with input being gathered from recruits, instructors, and other participants.
No further details about the specific boxing training exercise that Delgado-Garcia participated in have been made public.
The boxing exercise is part of a rigorous 25-week, paramilitary-style training program described on the Academy’s website as being both physically and mentally challenging, though not impossible.
Delgado-Garcia’s class is scheduled to graduate on October 9. In the final hours of his life, he was sworn in by the state police.
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Delgado-Garcia moved to Worcester as a child. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“Enrique was an extraordinary young man who dedicated himself to serving others,” his obituary read. “He had always dreamed of becoming a state trooper and making a meaningful impact on his community.”
A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday.
