Massachusetts State Police say new recruits arriving Oct. 26 will enter an academy with revised instruction, expanded medical oversight and scheduled time for rest and recovery.
The department announced the changes Oct. 23, ahead of the 93rd Recruit Training Troop in New Braintree. It says 22 priority recommendations from an independent assessment have been implemented and work is underway on nine more. The assessment contained 103 recommendations in total.
Gov. Maura Healey ordered the review after Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia died during a training exercise in September 2024, according to the department's May 20 account.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police conducted the assessment. State Police say they delayed the next recruit class to make changes and hired PFM Group Consulting as an outside evaluator for a five-year reform process.
The academy has eliminated the title "drill instructor." About 15 sworn personnel will make up the new class's leadership team, alongside instructors teaching specialized subjects.
Changes also include concussion-awareness training, a greater presence of medical professionals and an expanded effort with UMass Memorial Medical Group to analyze recruit injuries. The department says trainees will have uninterrupted meals, designated recovery periods and opportunities to communicate with family.
A new approach to stress training is intended to connect stressful exercises to defined training purposes and safety, according to the department. Recruits must score 100% on written examinations covering the applicable use-of-force, electronic-control-weapon and defensive-tactics policies and procedures.
Andrea Nardone is the academy's new civilian director of training, and Capt. Michael Blanchette is academy commandant. The announced completion counts are the department's account of its progress; they do not mean all 103 recommendations have been carried out.