Intense Police Training Drill Raises Concerns Over Safety

Sat Dec 20 2025 21:21:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A troubling incident at the Texas Game Warden Training Center has sparked discussions about safety and training methods in law enforcement academies nationwide. Cadet Heather Sterling's experience during a four-on-one training drill has led to calls for reforms in training practices.

Heather Sterling, a game warden cadet, suffered a concussion during a rigorous four-on-one drill at the Texas Game Warden Training Center. This drill, part of a broader trend seen in police training across the United States, has raised alarms as injuries and fatalities associated with similar training exercises have been documented over the years. Experts criticize the training methods, calling some practices dangerous and inappropriate, while advocates push for safer protocols to ensure the well-being of recruits.

Heather Sterling stepped into the ring at the Texas Game Warden Training Center, ready to face an ambush by instructors acting as violent assailants.

The four-on-one drill is a rite of passage for those training to be game wardens, sworn officers who enforce state conservation laws. Nationwide, thousands of local and state police recruits are allowed into the profession only after passing similar drills – simulated fights for their lives.

The barrage of force against Sterling came rapidly, with a surprise push knocking her to the floor and repeated strikes occurring within minutes. Unfortunately, her experience is not isolated. Similar drills across the U.S. have linked such methods to injuries and deaths among cadets.

In fact, records show that on the same day of Sterling's drill, a dozen of her classmates suffered injuries from physical blows, leading to a larger conversation about the safety of law enforcement training methods nationwide. Critics argue that while these drills are designed for skill development, they can put recruits at risk of harm and create a hazardous training environment.

Sterling ultimately resigned from the academy after suffering from a concussion, highlighting her concerns that such training could potentially lead to fatal outcomes. Her perspective sheds light on the urgent need for reform in the training practices of law enforcement academies.