Why U.S. Police Training Is Under Fire—And How East Texas A&M’s Evidence-Based Academy Sets a New Standard
As questions grow around police recruit deaths in the U.S., East Texas A&M is showing how evidence-based training can build strong law enforcement officers without breaking them.
Over the past decade, at least 29 law enforcement trainees in the U.S. have died during basic police academy training. Many have collapsed under the strain of extreme physical drills meant to “toughen them up.” This sobering statistic, which was brought to light in a 2025 Associated Press article on police recruit training practices, has sparked a national call for police training reform.
Outdated Police Training Models Under Scrutiny
The AP investigation found that most of the recruit deaths resulted from from exertion, dehydration, heatstroke, use-of-force drills, collapse after runs on hot days, and other intense exercise. Many of the tragedies occurred on the first day of training.
While the 29 deaths are a small percentage of the nation's 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers, many experts agree that the deaths were preventable and improved training practices are needed.
“Training shouldn't have one death, much less 29,” said David Jude, who was quoted in the article. A retired Kentucky State Police academy commander and instructor, Jude said, “To hear that number, it is shocking.”
Redefining Police Training: East Texas A&M's Science-Backed Approach
As questions surround recruit training deaths, the East Texas A&M Law Enforcement Training Academy (AMLETA) stands out for its innovative approach to police recruit training.
A regional police academy located on the campus of East Texas A&M, AMLETA focuses on building cadets up, not breaking them down. Under the leadership of Director Louis Lufkin's, AMLETA has departed from outdated military-style practices in favor of a research-driven model, grounded in science and designed to prepare cadets for real-world police work.
For instance, instead of forcing cadets to run an arbitrary number of miles or do endless sit-ups because “that’s the way we’ve always done it,” AMLETA faculty and staff conduct extensive research to create a precise, evidence-based training program that prepares cadets for the specific occupational demands of a law enforcement officer.
Combining rigorous preparation with a strong commitment to cadet safety, AMLETA's approach could be a blueprint for the future of law enforcement training in America.
Precision Training Starts Here: Inside the Human Performance Lab
The training program begins in the university's Human Performance Lab, where cadets undergo comprehensive testing to benchmark their joint and muscle movement patterns and injury risks.
The DARI Motion system analyzes 17 joint motions and assesses physical movements that mimic a police officer's physical demands, like bounding and vertical leaps. The technology pinpoints the cadets' weaknesses and charts their progress.
Cadets also undergo DXA scans, which provide detailed insights into body fat percentage, muscle mass and bone density.
Dr. Michael Oldham, assistant professor of Health and Human Performance at East Texas A&M, explained that these tools give instructors a “grand picture of the tactical athlete’s health.”
“These are the same motions that we put our NCAA athletes through, so we do think of our cadets as tactical athletes,” Oldham said.
Personalized Physical Training for Law Enforcement Recruits
The cadets’ physical training progresses safely and systematically — first improving mobility, then adding load, and finally incorporating speed.
“We think about molding them into these superior athletes, and it takes a tremendous amount of time for the body to become accustomed to that type of stimulus,” Oldham said.
The training program is customized to each cadet and continually adjusted throughout the 24-week course. Cadets are routinely tested in the lab to assess improvements and identify areas of weakness or imbalance.
Husein Jabai, physical training lead at the academy, said instructors also use that data to provide personalized coaching.
“We can start picking apart the data and having discussions with individual recruits to say, ‘Hey, these are your areas of limitation. You’re going to need to have some sort of improvement in these areas…,” Jabai said.
The result is a gradual, safe and effective progression through the program.
Beyond physical training, cadets are empowered to understand and manage their health — from hydration and nutrition to recovery and injury prevention. The goal is to prepare officers not just for the academy, but for a full, healthy career in law enforcement and beyond.
“The profession in itself sets law enforcement’s health up for failure,” Jabai said. “You have to be proactive to survive and to get to and enjoy retirement.”
Proven Results: Stronger, Healthier Graduates
AMLETA's innovative approach is showing measurable benefits. Instructors report that cadets show improved performance in defensive tactics, such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and demonstrate increased strength and quicker recovery times.
Oldham emphasized that there are faster and cheaper police academies out there, but the investment in individual health and development at the East Texas A&M Law Enforcement Training Academy is second to none.
“The quality, the time, the length of the program, the services and, above all, the instruction cadets receive here at the academy put us at the top,” he said.
A New Standard
With three full academy cycles completed since 2023 and more than 60 graduates, AMLETA has established itself as a model for the future.
The program includes two full-time, 24-week daytime academies per year and additional part-time nighttime programs. Each is grounded in the same philosophy: train smarter, not harder — and build healthier, more capable officers.
“The way this program has been developed is setting the stage to have a positive impact on the entire profession,” Lufkin concluded.