A Gwinnett County Police recruit died on Tuesday morning following an unspecified medical emergency after only his second day of employment with the county, during class for the 112th Gwinnett Police Department Training Academy.
“Approximately 45 minutes into the first class of the day, Ronald Donat (41 year old male, from Stockbridge, Ga) became lethargic and was instructed by supervising staff to rest. Donat attempted to continue the training but looked confused,” Hideshi Valle, a public information officer for GCPD said in a written statement sent out to media on Tuesday afternoon.
Instructors notified the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services and began life saving procedures on Donat including providing oxygen and performing CPR. When fire medics arrived, they took over and Donat was transported to a local hospital where he later passed away.
Donat was in the 6 a.m. physical training class when he became ill after having just completed some pull-ups according to the police spokeswoman. Donat had passed previous physical evaluations before he began classes at the police academy. This was Donat’s first job in law enforcement.
His body was escorted from the hospital to the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office by officers. The exact cause of Donat’s death will be determined by the autopsy performed by the medical examiner.
His next of kin has been notified.
“The Gwinnett Police Department family extends our deepest condolences to Donat’s fiancé and two children,” said Valle on behalf of the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Donat is the first police officer recruit to die with the Gwinnett County Police Department.
