A Massachusetts State Police recruit who suffered a medical emergency during a training exercise was sworn in as a trooper before he died surrounded by friends and family in a hospital bed Friday.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, of Worcester, became unresponsive in the boxing ring during a defensive tactics training exercise at the State Police Academy on Thursday, law enforcement sources told WCVB.
The academy’s on-site medical team immediately rendered aid and transported the recruit to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, police said.
“Despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals to deliver lifesaving care, trainee Delgado-Garcia died at the hospital,” state police spokesman Tim McGuirk said.
He entered the 90th Recruit Training Troop in April and was scheduled to graduate on Oct. 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. described Delgado-Garcia as “a fine young man” who made an immediate impression on his classmates and the academy staff.”
The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office is “currently reviewing all aspects of this matter,” state police said.
Delgado-Garcia previously served as a victim witness advocate at the same DA’s office.
Todd McGhee, a law enforcement and security analyst who previously ran the state police defensive tactics program, told WCVB the curriculum includes 40 or 50 hours of training.
That training includes learning how to use a baton, pepper spray or handcuffs.
“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?”
