Jessie Rossman, legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts, released the following statement in response to the violent death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia and allegations of abuse and discrimination at the Massachusetts State Police Academy:
“The death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia and allegations of abuse and discrimination at the Massachusetts State Police Academy require a thorough independent investigation. Mr. Delgado-Garcia reportedly was beaten to death at the State Police Academy more than a week ago. His fatal injuries were reportedly incredibly severe, including damage to his brain, a broken neck, and missing teeth. It is hard to imagine how such injuries could have been inflicted in a closely supervised training environment.
“Since Mr. Delgado-Garcia's death, one of his former classmates has described his own experiences at the Academy, alleging severe instances of abuse and discrimination. Against the backdrop of Mr. Delgado-Garcia's death, this raises serious questions about whether there is a pattern and practice of discrimination or other systemic illegality at the Academy.”
“It is critical that allegations of misconduct, discrimination, and abuse at police training facilities — especially at the State Police Academy, and especially after a violent death has occurred — be thoroughly, impartially, and rapidly investigated. After more than a week, Massachusetts law enforcement agencies have yet to launch an independent investigation. Because the State Police are embedded in every major law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth, it appears there is currently no state-level law enforcement agency in a position to do so. Federal authorities, like the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation, should urgently step in and initiate an immediate federal investigation into Mr. Delgado-Garcia’s death and the related circumstances.
“In the long term, this raises the broader question about why there is no routine way to investigate potential Massachusetts State Police misconduct within the Commonwealth. Every state actor, including law enforcement, requires oversight; the lack of an established, state-led mechanism to investigate these types of allegations involving State Police is highly concerning.”
For more information about the ACLU of Massachusetts, go to: www.aclum.org
