Oklahoma City Police to Require Helmets in Training

Oklahoma City police say helmets will now be required during self-defense training after the death of a police recruit.

Police say 38-year-old Kelley Chase died after hitting his head on a mat during a custody control and defense training exercise on Friday.

Police chief Bill Citty tells Oklahoma City television station KOCO that Chase’s fall did not knock him unconscious. The chief says Chase was able to get up to his knees after hitting his head.

Citty says a safety officer is present – but that recruits must also be put in positions they may have to deal with when trying to arrest a suspect on the street.

Police say Chase was going through his final custody control and defense training test when he hit his head.