Asson Hacker

Gender : Male

Age :

Race : Black

Date : 09/23/2024

Location : Southwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy

City : Evansville

County : Vanderburgh

State : Indiana

Agency : Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, Evansville Police Department

Cause of Death : Unknown

Event : Officer died during training exercise

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Deputy Asson Hacker, a 33-year-old officer with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, died on September 23, 2024, following participation in a physically demanding training exercise known as the "Big Fight" at the Southwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Evansville. This exercise required recruits to engage in simulated combat with veteran officers.
.
During his session, Deputy Hacker was paired with a senior officer who had more extensive combat training and a significant weight advantage. The encounter lasted approximately seven minutes, during which Hacker exhibited signs of severe exhaustion. Shortly after completing the exercise, he collapsed and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
.
The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office attributed Hacker's death to "exertional sickling" caused by his sickle cell trait, classifying it as a natural cause. However, medical experts have questioned this conclusion, noting that Hacker had no prior history of complications from the condition, even during strenuous activities such as college basketball and bodybuilding.
.
Concerns have also been raised about the safety and relevance of the "Big Fight" training exercise. On the same day, another recruit suffered severe injuries during the exercise, highlighting potential systemic issues with the program. Critics argue that such drills may instill a combative mindset in officers and pose unnecessary risks to participants.
.
In summary, while the official cause of Deputy Hacker’s death has been attributed to natural causes, the circumstances surrounding the training exercise and the subsequent handling of the incident warrant further investigation to ensure accountability and the implementation of safer training practices.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://apnews.com/article/4d4b8e5c590938b22f4b59ee34fac3d9
https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/new-details-revealed-from-wrongful-death-lawsuit-in-vanderburgh-county/