Independent investigator named to lead probe into MSP trainee’s death
A prominent Massachusetts attorney has been named to lead an independent investigation into the death of a trooper trainee who died while training at the Massachusetts State Police academy, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said.Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, of Worcester, died Sept. 13 at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, one day after he was critically injured in a boxing exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree.David Meier, a trial attorney for more than 30 years who also worked as the Chief of Homicide with Suffolk County, will oversee the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Delgado-Garcia’s death “independently and impartially,” Campbell’s office said. “The Massachusetts State Police will have no role in the investigative team or decision-making process,” according to the attorney general.”I’m grateful to Attorney General Campbell for appointing an experienced, respected prosecutor to investigate the tragic death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia. Enrique’s family and the public deserve answers about what happened here,” said Gov. Maura Healey.Meier have complete authority to select his own investigative and legal team and to make his own independent decisions about the facts, the evidence, and the course of the investigation, Campbell’s office said. Earlier Monday, Healey said she will ask the next head of the Massachusetts State Police for an independent review of all training programs after the death of trainee Enrique Delgado-Garcia. State police said Sunday that the academy has suspended full-contact boxing training activities between trainees until further notice.Interim Col. John Mawn has directed a comprehensive review of the academy’s defensive tactics program to ensure that it aligns with safety standards, law enforcement objectives and best practices in training methods, officials said.”The colonel has undertaken a review of all the defensive tactics programs and one of the things I’m going to ask the new colonel to do when he begins is undertake an independent review of all of the academy’s programs and trainings because my goal is to make sure that we have in place the very best in terms of training for the sake of all recruits,” Healey said on Monday. Retired Lt. Col. Geoffrey D. Noble of the New Jersey State Police will assume leadership of the Massachusetts State Police in October.Few details are known about what happened during the boxing exercise, but Delgado-Garcia became unresponsive during a boxing exercise. He was removed from life support the next day. The autopsy report has not been finalized.Before training began in April to achieve his life-long dream of joining the state police, Delgado-Garcia had worked for 18 months at the Worcester County Attorney’s Office, where he often stayed late to help people, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said at a news conference last week.”Because of this close relationship, someone else will be handling this matter,” said Early, with tearful members of Delgado-Garcia’s family and former co-workers nearby. “There’s no way this office can handle this. Everyone loved Enrique.”Early said detectives assigned to his office will continue to investigate, but they will work with whichever agency takes over.”What needs to happen, though, is there needs to be the appointment of an investigator to conduct the investigation,” Healey pushed on Monday. State police have said they are “fully cooperating” with investigatory authorities and are urging the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to name an independent investigator as soon as possible.
A prominent Massachusetts attorney has been named to lead an independent investigation into the death of a trooper trainee who died while training at the Massachusetts State Police academy, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, of Worcester, died Sept. 13 at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, one day after he was critically injured in a boxing exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree.
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David Meier, a trial attorney for more than 30 years who also worked as the Chief of Homicide with Suffolk County, will oversee the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Delgado-Garcia’s death “independently and impartially,” Campbell’s office said.
“The Massachusetts State Police will have no role in the investigative team or decision-making process,” according to the attorney general.
“I’m grateful to Attorney General Campbell for appointing an experienced, respected prosecutor to investigate the tragic death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia. Enrique’s family and the public deserve answers about what happened here,” said Gov. Maura Healey.
Meier have complete authority to select his own investigative and legal team and to make his own independent decisions about the facts, the evidence, and the course of the investigation, Campbell’s office said.
Earlier Monday, Healey said she will ask the next head of the Massachusetts State Police for an independent review of all training programs after the death of trainee Enrique Delgado-Garcia.
State police said Sunday that the academy has suspended full-contact boxing training activities between trainees until further notice.
Interim Col. John Mawn has directed a comprehensive review of the academy’s defensive tactics program to ensure that it aligns with safety standards, law enforcement objectives and best practices in training methods, officials said.
“The colonel has undertaken a review of all the defensive tactics programs and one of the things I’m going to ask the new colonel to do when he begins is undertake an independent review of all of the academy’s programs and trainings because my goal is to make sure that we have in place the very best in terms of training for the sake of all recruits,” Healey said on Monday.
Retired Lt. Col. Geoffrey D. Noble of the New Jersey State Police will assume leadership of the Massachusetts State Police in October.
Few details are known about what happened during the boxing exercise, but Delgado-Garcia became unresponsive during a boxing exercise. He was removed from life support the next day. The autopsy report has not been finalized.
Before training began in April to achieve his life-long dream of joining the state police, Delgado-Garcia had worked for 18 months at the Worcester County Attorney’s Office, where he often stayed late to help people, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said at a news conference last week.
“Because of this close relationship, someone else will be handling this matter,” said Early, with tearful members of Delgado-Garcia’s family and former co-workers nearby. “There’s no way this office can handle this. Everyone loved Enrique.”
Early said detectives assigned to his office will continue to investigate, but they will work with whichever agency takes over.
“What needs to happen, though, is there needs to be the appointment of an investigator to conduct the investigation,” Healey pushed on Monday.
State police have said they are “fully cooperating” with investigatory authorities and are urging the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to name an independent investigator as soon as possible.