Rebecca De Paula, a 31-year-old NYPD officer assigned to the Bronx's 46th Precinct, died on August 2 at a Santo Domingo clinic after complications from breast implant removal surgery. Her family says she developed a bacterial infection after the procedure and later died despite treatment. Dominican authorities have opened an investigation, and De Paula’s family is seeking answers about potential malpractice or negligence. De Paula was a mother of three, a pastor, and had been named Officer of the Month for March.
NYPD Officer Rebecca De Paula Dies After Breast Implant Removal Surgery in Dominican Republic
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Rebecca De Paula, a 31-year-old New York Police Department officer and mother, has died after complications from a breast implant removal procedure at a private clinic in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic.
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According to reporting by The New York Post, De Paula — who served at the 46th Precinct in the Bronx — died in the early hours of Sunday, August 2, at Centro de Cirugía Plástica y Especialidades. She had traveled to the Dominican Republic roughly a week earlier to have breast implants removed after raising health concerns about the implants.
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Her family says De Paula developed a bacterial infection following the surgery and was returned to the clinic, where medical staff attempted treatment before she died. Dominican authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances, though officials have not yet released a formal cause of death.
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Family, Community And Colleagues React
De Paula, who served two years with the NYPD, was also active in her faith community as a pastor. She leaves behind a husband and three young children. During her time at the 46th Precinct she was recognized for her service and was named Officer of the Month for March.
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“They didn't tell me, 'She's dead.' They told me she was in a serious condition,” De Paula’s mother recalled after rushing to the clinic. “My brother rushed me there, I went upstairs and I saw the empty bed. Something was wrong, I thought. I said 'Where is my daughter?' And my son told me, 'Mommy, she's with God.' That was the only thing he said to me.”
Colleagues and trainers remembered De Paula on social media. Retired NYPD instructor David Marmol described her as a “beautiful soul” who often responded to people with blessings rather than a simple greeting.
Investigation And Wider Context
Dominican investigators are continuing their inquiry, and De Paula’s family has called on local authorities to determine whether malpractice or negligence played a role in her death. The case draws renewed attention to the risks associated with medical tourism for cosmetic procedures. Less than a year earlier, another NYPD officer, Detective Alicia Stone, died after cosmetic surgery in Colombia.
Authorities have not released an official cause of death. The family and community are awaiting further details from Dominican officials and have urged a thorough and transparent investigation.
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