Two years ago, a sheriff's deputy's death during routine training at a police academy in Evansville, Indiana, raised questions about the safety of such programs. An investigation by the Associated Press sought to determine whether these fatalities were commonplace and the underlying reasons behind them. The findings revealed that over the past decade, at least 29 recruits in the United States have died while engaging in basic law enforcement training.
The investigation uncovered that most of these deaths resulted from exertion and heat rather than from any use of force. Many recruits collapsed during strenuous physical activities, such as lengthy obstacle courses, rigorous calisthenics, and timed runs, often conducted in high temperatures and without sufficient hydration. Notably, a significant number of these incidents occurred during the initial days of physical training, which are notoriously intense at some academies, though fatalities were reported throughout the duration of the programs.
In addition to heat-related conditions, medical examiners frequently cited complications stemming from excessive physical strain as contributing factors to these deaths. For instance, a few tragic incidents stemmed from boxing or simulated combat exercises, reminiscent of the case involving Deputy Asson Hacker in Evansville.
A concerning demographic trend emerged from the investigation, revealing that nearly 60% of the recruits who died were Black men, a stark contrast to the 12% representation of Black officers in local law enforcement agencies across the nation. Some experts attribute this disparity to the prevalence of sickle cell trait among Black Americans. This genetic condition, which typically does not affect daily life, may lead to increased risks of heat stroke and muscle breakdown during intense physical exertion, especially in hot environments. Medical examiners have cited sickle cell trait as a contributing factor in the deaths of several recruits, including Edgar Ordonez, who tragically succumbed to exertional heat stroke while training for the New York City Police Department last summer.
Unlike the military and collegiate sports organizations, many police departments do not conduct screenings for this genetic condition before recruiting candidates. Consequently, many individuals remain unaware of whether they carry the sickle cell trait. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend hydration, rest breaks, and measures to cool body temperatures during training to mitigate risks for carriers.
The investigation also noted that the number of recruit deaths appears to be on the rise, coinciding with a growing officer shortage within police departments. A surge in fatalities has been observed since 2020, primarily due to the pandemic and widespread protests against police brutality, which prompted departments to seek a more diverse and older applicant pool. Alarmingly, a significant proportion of the deceased recruits were in their 30s and 40s.
Despite the alarming trend, the deaths of recruits frequently go unrecognized, and families often struggle to access necessary benefits or investigations. Because many recruits have not yet become sworn officers, they are ineligible for inclusion in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Additionally, their names may not qualify for similar state memorials, and their families may be denied state death benefits typically reserved for officers killed in the line of duty.
While national organizations closely track the circumstances surrounding sworn officer fatalities, there is no dedicated group monitoring deaths among police recruits. Consequently, trends related to these deaths may go unnoticed. In certain states, workplace safety regulators have the authority to investigate police academy deaths; however, this jurisdiction is not uniformly applied. The degree of any investigations depends significantly on the police departments operating the academies and the cooperation of local prosecutors and medical examiners.
