Rebecca de Paula, a 31-year-old New York police officer, died after breast implant removal surgery in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. Her family says she developed a bacterial infection during recovery and is calling for an investigation into possible malpractice.
New York Police Department and Bronx service
De Paula had just joined the New York Police Department in January 2025 and was stationed at the 46th Precinct in the Bronx. In March, the 46th Precinct honored her as officer of the month, a detail that places her death in the middle of a career that had only recently begun to take shape.
Family allegations after the surgery
Relatives alleged that the infection affected her recovery process and led to her death after she sought the operation in Santo Domingo. The hospital where the surgery took place has not been named, and the Police Department did not immediately issue a statement regarding her death.
Repatriation and unanswered details
Colleagues and the Dominican Officers' Fraternal Association described her as dedicated to her faith and community after her death. Her remains are expected to be repatriated back home for burial, while the next step that matters most to her family is whether any investigation into her treatment will move forward and what exactly happened during her surgery and recovery.
