Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has appointed outside attorney David Meier to lead an independent investigation into the death of state police recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia. Delgado-Garcia passed away on Sept. 13 after experiencing a medical emergency during a defensive tactics training exercise in New Braintree. Campbell expressed her gratitude to Delgado-Garcia’s family and the public for their patience in the search for the appropriate authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
David Meier, a partner at the law firm Todd & Weld LLP in Boston, has been chosen to oversee the investigation. Meier has a wealth of experience in death investigations, having previously worked on cases involving misconduct at the Hinton State Drug Laboratory and overseen homicide cases in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He will have full autonomy in selecting his investigative and legal team and making independent decisions throughout the investigation.
Worcester County DA Joseph Early Jr. decided to hand off the investigation due to Delgado-Garcia’s previous employment in his office. However, he did not specify which agency or investigator would take over the case. Campbell’s selection of Meier one week later provided clarity on who would be leading the investigation.
In addition to investigating Delgado-Garcia’s death, Interim Col. John Mawn announced the suspension of full-contact training while officials review the state police defensive tactics program. This decision comes as former New Jersey Lt. Col. Geoffrey Noble prepares to take on the role of the next colonel of the Massachusetts State Police. Governor Maura Healey has called on Noble to conduct an independent review of all academy programs and trainings to ensure the highest quality of training for all recruits.
As the investigation into Delgado-Garcia’s death progresses, Campbell has pledged full support to Meier and his team. She will receive regular briefings but will not be involved in the decision-making process. The public can expect a thorough and responsible investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic loss of Trooper Delgado-Garcia.