Cost nears $700K, questions linger over year after death of State Police recruit

As the Massachusetts State Police celebrated the graduation of its 92nd Recruit Training Troop Wednesday, questions remain about a still-ongoing independent investigation into the death of a recruit who never made it to his graduation day.

Boston 25 anchor and investigative reporter Kerry Kavanaugh attended the ceremony and pressed state leaders on the status of the investigation into the 2024 death of police academy recruit Enrique Delgado Garcia. 25 Investigators have learned that the cost of this investigation is approaching $700,000.

State Police officials swore in 115 recruits during Wednesday’s ceremony. Delgado Garcia was just weeks away from graduating from college when he died in September 2024.

As 25 Investigates has reported for more than a year, Delgado Garcia died after boxing training at the State Police Academy. He was 25 years old.

“A young man of only 25 years old…they shattered his dream,” his father-in-law, Jose Ramon Perez-Garcia, told Kavanaugh in Spanish in an interview in May.

Perez-Garcia said her son has long-term goals beyond policing. He was at the academy with the dream of becoming a lawyer. He always wanted to work to help others.

Sources close to the investigation told 25 Investigates he suffered broken bones, damaged or missing teeth and a spinal injury.

Days after his death, the state launched an independent investigation into what went wrong. Work began in mid-September 2024. The investigation is now approaching its 16th month and Delgado Garcia’s family still has no answers.

At Wednesday’s graduation, Kavanaugh questioned Gov. Maura Healey about the length and cost of the investigation.

“Do you have any concerns about the length of the investigation into the death of rookie Enrique Delgado. It’s approaching 16 months and exceeding $670,000,” Kavanaugh asked.

“You’ll have to ask the people doing this investigation,” Healey replied.

Kavanaugh went on to ask, “Well, as governor, are you concerned about how long this is taking? »

“I just want this to be done right. I mean, I want justice for the family, for everyone involved and for answers. You know what I’ve said all along. But I’ll leave it to those who are in charge of the investigation to sort it out,” Healey said.

For months, 25 Investigates tracked both the progress and cost of the investigation.

In December, the station submitted another public records request seeking final billing from the Todd & Weld law firm and lead investigator David Meier.

Records show the total price tag for the investigation exceeded $1 million. After $344,050 in rebates granted by Meier, the state paid more than $667,227.78 for work done through September.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office hired the independent investigator. Campbell appeared at Wednesday’s ceremony but did not answer questions.

In a written statement to 25 investigators, Campbell said: “We continue to remember and honor Trooper Delgado-Garcia not only as a courageous and dedicated law enforcement officer, but also as a beloved family member and friend. I recognize the frustration and pain that can accompany a lengthy and thorough investigation, and I remain committed to supporting David Meier’s independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Trooper Delgado-Garcia’s death.”

After Delgado Garcia’s death, the Massachusetts State Police announced a series of reforms, including splitting the next graduating class into two smaller cohorts, appointing new Academy leadership, and conducting an hour-by-hour review of the training curriculum.

State police also suspended the full contact boxing training program after Delgado-Garcia’s death.

Kavanaugh spoke again Wednesday with Delgado Garcia’s father-in-law. He said his son’s birthday was January 2. He would have been 27 years old.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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