By John Dobberstein, Editor
The Broken Arrow Police Department have identified the police recruit who died Wednesday afternoon after a medical emergency during physical training.
The recruit who passed was 40-year-old Franklin Leinen of Broken Arrow. No other details a about Leinen were released.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has been asked to lead the investigation. BAPD Sgt. Jordan Sawyer said Leinen suffered a medical emergency occurred during scheduled physical training at the academy Wednesday afternoon.
Immediately after Leinen experienced the medical emergency instructors on scene began life-saving measures and he was transported by emergency responders to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 4:30 p.m.
Sawyer said he couldn’t comment on whether Leinen was suffering from any discomfort or having visible signs of distress, as OSBI will consider that in their investigation.
“What we can share is that instructors were present, recognized the emergency immediately and began life-saving measures,” Sawyer said.
Sawyer noted that all recruits go through a comprehensive screening process that includes medical evaluations to ensure they are fit for training. BAPD said it can’t discuss individual medical history due to privacy laws, but the department, “follows strict guidelines to ensure recruits meet health and fitness standards before entering the academy.”
An autopsy will be performed on Leinen by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s office, which is standard in such cases, to determine the cause of death.
The OSBI’s role is to conduct an independent review to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure a, “full and objective assessment of the facts.” The BAPD Internal Affairs Unit will not be involved.
Sawyer said out of respect for the family’s privacy he would not be sharing Leinen’s application story. “We know this recruit chose to pursue a career in law enforcement out of a commitment to serve the community and a willingness to step forward into a challenging and honorable profession,” Sawyer said.
The incident continues to weigh heavily on the department and community as a whole, Sawyer said. BAPD activated chaplains, its peer support team and counseling services to support fellow recruits, instructors, officers, and first responders. “Our message is simple: you are not alone in your grief. We are committed to walking through this loss together — as a department, a city, and a community — and ensuring every resource is available to those who need it,” Sawyer said.
Words cannot truly express the depth of sadness at learning of this death,” Ford said. “To have someone taken at the very prime of their life right as they are realizing a dream is an incredibly hard loss. I admire Cadet Leinen for his dedication and his calling. Only the good Lord can bring comfort during a time such as this. I pray the family and friends of Cadet Leinen experience the peace that passes our own understanding.”
Ford, a retired police officer, aLos extended his condolences to Leinen’s fellow cadets and to the instructors and others at BAPD and other responding agencies affected by the tragedy. He praised police response as well as the Broken Arrow Fire Department for quickly arriving to offer assistance during the emergency.
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