Daytona Beach Policeman Dies After Collapsing During Training

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Daytona Beach, FL - A Daytona Beach police officer died earlier today after collapsing during a training session.

DBPD officer Thomas M. Coulter passed away this morning, 3 days after Friday morning's incident at police headquarters on 129 Valor Boulevard, according to Chief Craig Capri during a press conference.

"Sometimes, things just happen," Capri added. "You don't know the reason why. A lot of it is in God's hands."

Capri mentioned that DBPD is investigating what happened, but that there was no early indications that something was wrong with Officer Coulter before he collapsed.

"It happened right here at the [police department]," Capri noted. "I just don't understand. [The doctors] told us he was going to be OK initially and then that happens."

Capri also noted that Coulter was part of a brand-new training class which had started the week prior and that the new officers weren't engaged in any sort of strenuous exercise at the time.

According to a DBPD press release following Capri's conference, Coulter was doing physical training exercises with the rest of his classmates around 8:50 a.m. Friday when trainers noticed that his lips turned purple and he appeared pale. Paramedics were then called to the scene and he was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment.

Coulter was responding to paramedics and trainers for much of the time, according to Capri.

DBPD says no other information - including video - of this incident will be released for now, but an autopsy is scheduled to determine exactly what led to Coulter's death.

Funeral services are pending at this time.

The training group Coulter was in has been temporarily suspended but should resume work soon, per Capri.

Flags are flying at half-staff at DBPD headquarters in Coulter's honor and all sworn officers will be wearing mourning crepes, according to the release.

Copyright 2018 Southern Stone Communications.

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