The Associated Press reviewed law-enforcement defensive-tactics drills and found that "RedMan" style exercises have been linked to at least a dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries nationwide since 2005. A December 2024 Texas game warden drill injured 13 cadets, including multiple concussions, though a state probe found no official fault. Critics and some former recruits argue these intense, varied exercises lack consistent safety standards and can cause severe physical and psychological harm.
AP Review: 'RedMan' Police-Training Drills Tied to Deaths, Severe Injuries Nationwide
In this still image from video obtained by The Associated Press, Heather Sterling is hit in the head by one of her instructors, who is acting as a violent assailant, during a four-on-one training drill, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton, Texas.
When recruits at the Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton were repeatedly punched and tackled during a role-playing exercise on Dec. 13, 2024, at least 13 cadets reported injuries — including multiple concussions, a torn knee, a broken wrist and injuries that required surgery. That session is part of a pattern examined by The Associated Press: defensive-tactics exercises known as "RedMan" drills have been linked to serious injuries and at least a dozen deaths since 2005.
Nationwide Toll
An AP review found that a range of academy drills — variously called "RedMan training," "combat training," "Fight Day" or "stress reaction training" — have been associated with dozens of traumatic outcomes across the U.S. High-profile cases cited in the review include:
- Jon-Marques Psalms, who died two days after a San Francisco Police Department Academy exercise; an autopsy described complications from a high-intensity training session.
- William Bailey, a Kentucky game warden recruit who died after a pool fight at a training exercise; officials ruled the death an accidental drowning with a sudden cardiac dysrhythmia during exertion.
- A Denver recruit who later underwent double leg amputation following a training fight, and an Indiana recruit who died after severe exertion and beating during a drill.
How the Drills Work
These exercises are designed to simulate violent confrontations so recruits can practice defensive tactics under stress. Formats vary widely: trainees may fend off multiple assailants at once, face a succession of instructors, or spar with larger, more skilled training staff. Participants typically wear padded, colored protective gear (hence the nickname "RedMan") intended to reduce impact from strikes.
But supervision, safety protocols and medical support differ significantly between academies. There are no uniform national standards that define approved formats, required protective equipment, or whether on-site medical personnel must be present.
Case Profile: Heather Sterling
Heather Sterling, a former Wyoming game warden and defensive-tactics instructor who enrolled in the Texas academy, described a "four-on-one" drill in which cadets endured a concentrated barrage of strikes while trying to strike a held pad for extended periods. Sterling was struck seven times in the head in under two minutes; the final blow dislodged her helmet and she was later diagnosed with a concussion. Though she completed the exercise, she resigned in protest and has spoken publicly calling the practice "a poorly disguised assault."
Calls For Reform
Proponents say well-designed, well-supervised stress training can teach recruits decision-making and resilience in violent encounters. Critics counter that some drills risk physical harm and psychological trauma, driving promising candidates from law enforcement. The incidents highlighted by the AP review have intensified debates about the need for clearer safety rules, universal training standards and stronger oversight.
Key question: How can academies maintain realistic defensive training while protecting recruits from avoidable harm?
Experts and advocates urge independent reviews of training programs, adoption of evidence-based safety protocols, mandatory medical coverage during high-intensity exercises, and better instructor certification standards. The debate is ongoing as agencies weigh the benefits of realistic preparation against the real risk of injury and death.
