OKC Police Recruit Dies From Injury Sustained At Training Academy

News 9 learned Friday the recruit was hurt during a training session at the academy. He was rushed to the hospital where he was placed in intensive care until his death.

Saturday, October 13th 2012, 3:23 pm

By: News 9

OKC Police Recruit Dies From Injury Sustained At Training Academy

An Oklahoma City Police recruit injured at the training academy died Saturday.

District Attorney David Prater says the recruit died from a head injury he sustained during "self defense" training. He was rushed to Mercy hospital and placed in ICU. He died Saturday.

Police are not releasing the recruit's name. The department said the incident did not involve a firearm.

According to New 9 sources, the recruit was 38 years old and had spent 20 years in the military before entering the police academy. He left the military to spend more time with his family, including two small children.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office posted District Attorney David Prater's statement on their Facebook page Saturday:

"From District Attorney David Prater regarding the death of an Oklahoma City Police Department cadet:

We have lost a true hero. An OCPD cadet has died from a head injury he sustained during self-defense training in the police academy. He is a hero, not just because he chose to serve the public as an OCPD officer, but he was a military veteran who had been deployed as well. He is a father of two small children. He made the decision to leave the military and pursue his law enforcement career because he wanted to be home with his children and wife. That is why I consider him a hero.

We take for granted the difficulty involved in being a public servant, especially a police officer. Their job is very dangerous and training for the job involves dangerous activities that prepare cadets for the job they will face upon graduation from the academy. Please keep this hero's family in your prayers and all of our OCPD family as well."

Police say they will release more information about the recruit on Monday.

Back in June 2012, Officer Juan Legaretta, a Jenks Police officer who was applying for a job with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics, collapsed and died during training in Oklahoma City.