California Police Department Fined After Recruit's Death - Risk Management Failures

California's occupational safety regulators have levied a $40,500 fine against the San Francisco Police Department due to the tragic death of a recruit during a training session. According to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), the department's failure to evaluate and mitigate safety risks in their intense physical training exercises resulted in multiple violations.

The investigation underscored the deficiency of adequate risk management measures during training sessions, leading to the collapse and subsequent death of Jon-Marques Psalms, a 30-year-old recruit. His demise was linked to rhabdomyolysis, a condition where extreme physical exertion causes dangerous muscle breakdown.

The department attributed its rigorous exercises to state-mandated training standards set by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. During one such exercise, Psalms suffered a medical emergency and, despite prompt medical attention, died two days later. Cal/OSHA's review further uncovered shortcomings in the training provided to supervisors overseeing these exercises. Following the citation, the San Francisco Police Department has filed an appeal.

In response to the incident, Psalms’ family has struggled to obtain information and noted that he lacked eligibility for life insurance or other benefits at the time of his death, complicating their pursuit of legal investigations. Requests for comment from the police department were unanswered. This report includes contributions from KQED journalist Ted Goldberg.