(Ronald) Donat is among at least 29 recruits who died during basic training at law enforcement academies around the country in the last decade, an AP investigation found. Most died of exertion, dehydration, heat stroke and other conditions tied to intense exercise — often on the first day of training, like Donat. Others died several weeks in, sometimes after suffering trauma during boxing or use-of-force drills or collapsing during high-stakes timed runs on hot days.
Experts and police advocates were surprised by AP’s findings — based on an extensive review of lists of law enforcement deaths in every state, workplace safety records and news reports — and said many of the deaths were preventable. No federal agency or outside organization comprehensively tracks recruit deaths, unlike officers who die in the line of duty.
Black recruits represented nearly 60% of those who died, a striking disparity given that federal data show Black officers make up 12% of local police forces. Many carried sickle cell trait, a condition most prevalent among Black Americans that increases the risk of serious injury following extreme exertion.
“Wow, this system is corrupt and oppresses the working class, I’d better sign up” good riddance edit: I regret saying good riddance, it is petty and callous.
You can’t imagine changing the system so that it stops being oppressive?
Not a system that has shown time and time again that it is severely flawed. If you are trying to join a system and change it from within, you cant expect to reach an influential level if the system is so largely corrupt without accepting and participating in that corruption. As such people who volunteer to enter the system are likely looking to participate and not change.
Ever meet a kid that wanted to be a cop? Why do you think they had such aspirations? Surely not to uphold the status quo and maintain the power structures in our society. They’re idealistic kids who think they’ll be helping make the world a better place. That dream doesn’t suddenly die for everyone upon reaching adulthood. Would it be effective? Maybe not. But it’s not like people don’t make poor life decisions all the time.