Massachusetts State Police recruit dies after boxing ‘training exercise’

The State Police recruit severely injured in a boxing “training exercise” has died, the MSP announced late Friday night.

Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, “tragically passed away following a medical crisis suffered” Thursday at the New Braintree Academy, the agency announced.

His death is being investigated by the Worcester DA’s office, according to multiple reports. He died at UMass Medical Center in Worcester after being injured at the State Police New Braintree training center.

“Despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals to deliver lifesaving care, Trainee Delgado-Garcia died at the hospital,” the agency added.

State Police Col. John E. Mawn Jr. said Friday night Delgado-Garcia was a member of the 90th Recruit Training Troop and came to the agency after serving as a victim witness advocate in the Worcester District Attorney’s Office.

“The Massachusetts State Police grieves the tragic loss of Trainee Enrique Delgado-Garcia, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. They have the full measure of our support and care, and they remain full members of our State Police Family,” Mawn said.

He added: “In his short time with the State Police, Enrique demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to learn and a desire to deliver excellent police services to the people of Massachusetts. He made an immediate impression on his classmates and the Academy Staff. By all accounts, Enrique possessed and displayed all the qualities that would have made him an outstanding Trooper: kindness and compassion, dedication, commitment, willingness to work hard to improve himself, and a strong desire help others.”

The agency did not go into any detail about the nature or severity of his injuries.

They did say Delgado-Garcia “became unresponsive” during the training exercise Thursday. “The Academy’s on-site medical team, which includes dedicated staff from UMass Medical, responded immediately and rendered aid. The medical team determined that Delgado-Garcia required urgent medical care and transported him via Ambulance to a local medical facility” where he was reportedly put on life-support.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey wrote in a statement that she is “heartbroken about the loss of Massachusetts State Police Trainee Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who had committed himself to a career protecting the people of Massachusetts.

“He was a beloved member of his academy class, known for his compassion and devotion to service,” Healey continued. “This is a devastating time for all who knew and loved him, and we are holding Enrique’s family and his State Police community in our hearts.”

The MSP has a boxing team, with a show last month, and the boxing training was reinstated at the academy to teach would-be troopers how to defend themselves if they get into hand-to-hand combat out on patrol.

The Massachusetts State Police Boxing Team also has social-media sites on X, formerly Twitter, and on Facebook where they advertise “Saturday Night at the Fights” events.

The Facebook page says the group is “the only State Police Boxing Team in the country.” They also host boxing events for charity.