Massachusetts State Police Academy officials have been indicted in connection with the death of a recruit who became unresponsive during a defensive tactics training exercise that included boxing, an investigator appointed by the state attorney general said Monday.
David Meier, who was named by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell to investigate the death, said four officials with the Massachusetts State Police’s defensive tactics unit were charged with involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury to a person participating in a training program. Meier also said Sgt. Jennifer Penton, the unit’s supervisor, faces an additional perjury charge related to her grand jury testimony.
Meier said each of the indicted officials had a “duty of care” to Enrique Delgado-Garcia and that the charges allege the officials committed “a series of wanton and reckless acts and omissions” that resulted in Delgado-Garcia’s death. He told reporters that Delgado-Garcia was first concussed during “unauthorized, unapproved and unsafe” sparring sessions.
Meier said that about a day later, Delgado-Garcia sustained multiple blunt force injuries to the head and massive brain bleeding after academy staff failed to stop a training boxing match. He said Delgado-Garcia died at a hospital on Sept. 13, 2024, a day after becoming unresponsive during the defensive tactics exercise in a boxing ring, which authorities at the time described as a “medical crisis.”
The indicted officials include Penton, along with Troopers Edwin Rodriguez, David Montanez and Casey LaMonte. Meier said the defendants would not be arrested and that a date for their arraignment would be set later.
A lawyer for Penton declined to comment. Lawyers for Rodriguez and Montanez could not be reached for comment, and it was unclear whether LaMonte had an attorney, Meier said in the course of describing the case to reporters.
Outside the criminal case, Brian Williams, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, said the officials indicted were “entitled to the same presumption of innocence and due process guaranteed to every citizen.” In a statement, Williams said the association “stands firmly behind its members” and intends to “vigorously defend them” as it works with the Department to strengthen and enhance training standards.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in remarks reported Monday that it was important that an independent and impartial investigation be conducted into Delgado-Garcia’s death. The investigation, Meier said, followed advocacy groups’ calls as well as calls from Delgado-Garcia’s family and friends for accountability.
Delgado-Garcia’s family’s attorney, Mike Wilcox, said the family was “relieved there has been progress in the case from the beginning,” and that Monday marked “a big day.” Lawyers for Civil Rights executive director Iván Espinoza-Madrigal said he was “heartened to see that the State Police will be held accountable for the tragic loss of life,” adding that cadets must be safe and protected and that the tragedy should lead to meaningful reforms.
The incident comes after an AP investigation last year found at least 29 recruits died during basic training at law enforcement academies across the country over the previous decade. AP reported that most deaths involved exertion, dehydration, heatstroke and other conditions tied to intense exercise, while others involved trauma during boxing, use-of-force drills, or collapses during strenuous timed runs in hot weather.