Family of Deceased SFPD Recruit Orders Second Autopsy, Hires Lawyer Who Won Cases Against LAPD

"The family's attorney says Psalms was tackled and disarmed by an opponent wearing a padded RedMan suit. As the Chronicle reports, the San Francisco chief medical examiner confirmed that Psalms, who was 30 years old, suffered a medical emergency, as previously reported by SFist, resulting from severe physical exertion from the police training exercise, which simulates hand-to-hand combat. He died two days later from massive organ failure."

"As KRON4 reports, the cause of death has not been released, and Psalms's family is demanding answers from the city and police department. They're raising funds via GoFundMe to order their own autopsy. My older brother, Jon-Marques Psalms, passed away on August 22nd for reasons that we aren't fully aware of yet. Jon passed away after participating in a training exercise for the SFPD, San Francisco Police Department, Psalms's brother Malik Psalms wrote on the GoFundMe page."

"Additionally, as the SF Standard reported last week, the family retained attorney Bradley Gage from Southern California, where Psalms grew up. Gage is also currently representing San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus in a lawsuit against the county. The Standard says Gage has won major cases against the LAPD, and he represented Biggie Smalls's family in a wrongful death lawsuit, in which they were awarded $1 million in sanctions before the case was dismissed."

Jon-Marques Psalms, age 30, suffered a medical emergency after participating in a high-intensity defensive training exercise at the San Francisco Police Academy and died two days later from massive organ failure. The chief medical examiner attributed the emergency to severe physical exertion during a training drill that simulates hand-to-hand combat. The family is demanding answers, has raised funds via GoFundMe to obtain an independent autopsy, and retained attorney Bradley Gage. The family's attorney states Psalms was tackled and disarmed by an opponent wearing a padded RedMan suit during the exercise.

Read at sfist.com