At least 29 recruits have died during basic training at law enforcement academies nationwide in the last decade
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RonaldDonat’slongtimedreamofbecomingapoliceofficerwasinjeopardy.The41-year-oldstruggledtostandaftercompletingaflurryofpushups,sprintsandpullupsinthenotoriouslygruelingstartofphysicaltrainingthatrecruitscall“HellDay.”Videoabove:Chargesannouncedincrackdownonviolentgangoperation“Youaredead!”classmatesrecallasergeantberatingDonat,orderinghimtositonconcreteatthesuburbanAtlantapoliceacademy.Donat,aHaitianimmigrantonhisthirdattempttolandalawenforcementjob,assuredinstructorshewasn’tgivingup.Hemanagedtogetoffthegroundandrejoinrecruitsinabearcrawlexercise.Buthesoonwentlimp.OnehundredminutesaftertrainingbeganthatOctober2021morning,hewasdead,accordingtorecordsobtainedbyTheAssociatedPress.Donatisamongatleast29recruitswhodiedduringbasictrainingatlawenforcementacademiesaroundthecountryinthelastdecade,anAPinvestigationfound.Mostdiedofexertion,dehydration,heatstrokean
