SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The family of a 30-year-old San Francisco police recruit who died after a training exercise nearly a month ago plans to sue the city for negligence and emotional distress.
The department had said it believes his death is the first training related death in its history. After moving from Southern California to the Bay Area, Jon-Marques Psalms found success working in tech but still felt a pull to his original calling: serving in law enforcement. He was about three months into state-mandated police training when he suffered a medical emergency on Friday, August 22. He later died at the hospital.
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On Wednesday, his parents Marcus and Christina Psalms spoke alongside their attorney in a news conference announcing their plans to file a lawsuit. This week, their attorney filed a governmental claim on their behalf, the first step in the process.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever recover truthfully,” said Marcus Psalms, Jon-Marques’s father, reflecting on how difficult it was to say goodbye when he left for college in Louisiana.
“In his 30 years, he did more than most people do in 90 years,” said Christina Psalms, his mother, who described him as a young man wise beyond his years who appreciated what’s important in life: experiences, quality time, and stepping out of his comfort zone. For her birthday recently, Jon-Marques had surprised her with a jet ski experience even though she couldn’t swim.
“I’m just so glad I had that day with him,” Christina said through tears. “All I have left are experiences. Nobody should have gone through that and we don’t know enough about what happened. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Brad Gage, the Psalms’ family attorney cited a lack of transparency and said they plan on suing for assault, battery, negligence, civil rights violations, and emotional distress. In addition to seeking a second independent autopsy, the family is hoping for video of the training exercise their son participated in. The only information they have so far is from the initial chief medical examiner’s report. Gage said the report indicated a head injury.
“We don’t know how or when that injury occurred,” said Gage. “His body started to deteriorate and multiple organs started failing despite efforts from medical providers in the hospital to save him.”
Both of his parents insist he was perfectly health and even an athlete.
“Why go all out on a training exercise that is not a pass or fail,” said Marcus.
Gage also points to police leaders taking a leave and being transferred shortly after.
“It’s very highly unusual you would have both a captain and a lieutenant removed from a unit immediately after a tragedy like this happened,” said Gage.
San Francisco police tell ABC7 News those staffing changes had been plan prior to Psalms’ death and that it can’t comment further on pending litigation.
Meanwhile, the family is hoping for answers and beyond.
“That’s the other thing we want. We want accountability, but we also want change because it’s beyond our family,” said Marcus.
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