Overview
- Christina and Marcus Psalms filed a wrongful-death civil rights lawsuit naming the City of San Francisco, the Police Department, and then-Chief Paul Yep.
- The complaint says instructors relied on visual and verbal checks instead of monitoring vital signs and did not ensure hydration during the high-intensity exercise.
- The family alleges they were initially told their son was being evaluated for dehydration and were not informed he had been found unconscious before brain bleeding and severe swelling were disclosed.
- A second autopsy commissioned by the family reported brain bleeds that their attorney links to extreme exertion, and the suit accuses the city of withholding training videos while demanding preservation of all footage.
- SFPD declined comment due to litigation; the City Attorney called the death a tragedy and will respond in court, while officials note the drill aligns with POST standards and the medical examiner ruled accidental death from overexertion-induced rhabdomyolysis.