WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A supervisor and two instructors for the Massachusetts State Police tactical unit pleaded not guilty Thursday in the death of a recruit who suffered a concussion during a sparring session and suffered blunt force injuries a day later during an “unsanctioned and unsafe” boxing match.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, died at a hospital on Sept. 13, 2024, one day after he experienced a “medical crisis” and became unresponsive while performing defensive tactics drills in the boxing ring, authorities said at the time. Charges in such cases are extremely rare.
David Meier, an investigator appointed by the Massachusetts Attorney General, announced in February that the director and instructor of the police academy’s defensive tactics unit were charged with manslaughter and inflicting serious bodily injury on a person participating in the training. The supervisor was also charged with perjury during grand jury testimony.
Meyer has said unsafe boxing training gave the trainee a concussion, adding that a day later he suffered “multiple blunt force injuries to the head and massive bleeding on the brain” after academy staff failed to stop a training boxing match.
Lt. Jennifer Penton, then a sergeant, was charged and entered not guilty pleas to all charges before Worcester Superior Court Judge J. Gavin Reardon Jr., along with Troopers Edwin Rodriguez and David Montanez. A fourth soldier, Casey LaMonte, faces an arraignment on April 14.
All have pleaded not guilty.
In a packed courtroom, Penton, Rodriguez and Montanez stood together and answered “not guilty” as the charges were read. Across the courtroom, Delgado-Garcia’s relatives watched silently. Some people outside the court held signs with the trainee’s face and the words “Justice for Enrique.”
The three defendants were released on personal recognizance under several conditions, including having no contact with potential witnesses in the case.
Outside court, the Delgado-Garcia family’s attorney, Mike Wilcox, said Thursday had been a “difficult and long day” for Delgado-Garcia’s relatives, with some holding back tears.
“They’ve been patient. They’ve been gracious through all of this. They’ve shown nothing but grace,” Wilcox said.
“As you know, they’re still grieving and they’re going to stick with this process for as long as it takes,” he said. “They want justice for Enrique and they want to make sure that the process is fair and that Enrique is heard here.”
The defendants did not speak outside court, but their lawyers called the death a “tragic accident” and said the three were simply doing their jobs and would ultimately be found not guilty.
“Officer Delgado’s tragedy was not a crime. The filing of these criminal charges will not bring Officer Delgado Garcia back,” Penton’s attorney Brad Bailey said. “The Commonwealth’s efforts to apply … complex legal theory to the underlying facts will not change those facts. Nor will it transform this tragedy into a crime.”
Lawyers defend training and soldiers
Kevin Reddington, who represents Montanez, described all three soldiers as “good guys” and argued that the training was necessary to prepare recruits for crime-fighting duties.
“It’s easy for people to say gosh, this is so gross,” Reddington said. “They allege this was reckless conduct and they bring manslaughter charges against those who carried out their duties in accordance with rules, regulations and recognized and effective training.”
Brian Williams, president of the Massachusetts Police Association, also defended the officers.
“These members and our entire defensive tactical staff are among the best in the country and all established protocols are strictly followed,” he said.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell appointed Meyer in February and said it was important to conduct an independent, impartial investigation. Advocacy groups and Delgado-Garcia’s family and friends have previously called for those responsible to be held accountable.
More than 30 recruits have died at the academy since 2015
An Associated Press investigation called “Dead or Die” found that more than 30 recruits have died while in law enforcement academies since 2015 due to violence or grueling training, heat, exhaustion and other medical conditions.
The death toll has risen in recent years as departments turn to less traditional candidates to fill vacancies but maintain long-standing academy exercises. Investigators generally view it as an unfortunate but inevitable medical event and rarely consider criminal charges.
The charges in Massachusetts are believed to be the first in years related to the death of a police academy recruit. An Associated Press investigation into the deaths of 37 military recruits since 2005 found no other cases that resulted in criminal charges.
Other forms of legal liability, including civil lawsuits and workplace safety investigations, are also rarely pursued. Even after Congress passed a law clarifying that military recruits were eligible, families still struggled to collect federal death benefits.
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Associated Press writer Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, contributed to this report.