The death of Enrique Delgado Garcia, a Massachusetts State Police recruit who sustained critical injuries during a training exercise, has led to a significant shift in the investigation’s oversight. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early announced that his office will not lead the investigation due to the close personal ties and the emotional impact of the case. Early described Delgado Garcia as an exceptional and dedicated employee who was deeply committed to helping others.
Delgado Garcia had recently left Early’s office, where he worked as a victim witness advocate, to pursue his dream of becoming a state trooper. The circumstances surrounding his death during a boxing training exercise have led to questions about the adequacy of the training protocols. Early mentioned that while the cause and manner of death are still under investigation, Delgado Garcia’s family has reported severe injuries including a broken neck and head trauma.
The investigation will continue with state police detectives assigned to the case until a new agency takes over, though it will not be another district attorney’s office. Fred Taylor, President of the Worcester NAACP, has called for a thorough examination of training practices to ensure such a tragedy does not happen again.