Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a 25-year-old recruit from Worcester, was sworn in as a Massachusetts State Trooper from his hospital bed, surrounded by loved ones, before passing away on Friday. Delgado-Garcia had become unresponsive during a boxing exercise at the State Police Academy on Thursday.
According to the police, the academy’s on-site medical team promptly administered aid and transported the recruit to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
“Despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals to deliver lifesaving care, trainee Delgado-Garcia died at the hospital,” state police spokesman Tim McGuirk said to WCVB.
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The recruit joined the 90th Recruit Training Troop in April and was set to graduate on October 9. MSP “administered the oath of office in Enrique Delgado-Garcia’s final hours of life” on Friday night, McGuirk said.
“He was surrounded by family, loved ones, and classmates during the bi-lingual ceremony, which culminated in him being pinned with his Trooper Badge,” he said of the somber ceremony.
Delgado-Garcia’s body was escorted by state police from UMass Memorial to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office in Westfield on Saturday.
“Trooper Enrique Delgado Garcia was weeks away from graduating from the State Police Academy,” an emotional Union President Brian Williams told WCVB.
“I don’t think there’s words that can express how awful and how tragic the situation is.”
Col. John E. Mawn Jr. Praised Delgado-Garcia as “a fine young man” who quickly impressed his classmates and academy staff.
According to state police, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing all aspects of the case.
Delgado-Garcia previously worked as a victim witness advocate at the Worcester County DA’s office.
According to Todd McGhee, a law enforcement analyst, the state police training program includes 40 to 50 hours of training on using a baton, pepper spray, handcuffs, and so on.
“Thousands of recruits have gone through and participated in the boxing program safely without any problems,” McGhee said. “I think what’s important to look at is: What were the controls? What were the safeguards?”
