Training Drills Under Fire: Safety Concerns in Police Academies

Sat Dec 20 2025 20:13:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Investigations reveal widespread injuries and increasing safety concerns during physically intense training drills for police recruits. These practices are under scrutiny as former cadets speak out against dangerous training methods.

In Texas, cadet Heather Sterling faced a risky training drill where she suffered a concussion, part of a troubling pattern where similar drills nationwide have led to numerous injuries and even deaths among police recruits. Critics argue these high-risk exercises, often regarded as rites of passage, lack proper safety measures.

Heather Sterling stepped into the ring at the Texas Game Warden Training Center for a drill showcasing a 4-on-1 attack from instructors. This intense scenario highlighted the physical demands placed upon recruits training to be game wardens. Video evidence from the drill demonstrated the rapid onslaught she faced, leading to her suffering a concussion and injuries that plagued multiple fellow trainees.

Since 2005, similar drills have reportedly linked to numerous injuries and fatalities across the U.S., raising concern among law enforcement experts and former recruits. Critics argue that many training exercises resemble dangerous hazing, offering little educational value but risking serious harm.

Sterling, along with other injured cadets, is advocating for changes to ensure safety and accountability in police training programs across states.