Police Officer Paul France Found Dead In Submerged Vehicle

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has confirmed that Detective Paul France was found dead early this morning in a vehicle submerged in the sea behind the helicopter pad located behind the parking lot a short distance from the Queen Elizabeth Park 11 I in Road Town, Tortola.

France was a British citizen with close to forty years of service in the police forces in the United Kingdom and the British Virgin Islands.

Commissioner of Police Mark Collins, in an October 7 statement, said, “Detective France was a highly regarded member of our organization, and this tragedy profoundly saddens us. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.”

It was a man who went fishing in the area shortly after 8 am today, October 7, who observed the vehicle in the sea. He relayed what he saw to another person who arrived at the area shortly after. The second individual who, upon suspecting someone was in the vehicle, raised the alarm.

The RVIPF and Fire and Rescue were summoned and with the aid of one of the men, swam out.

“After a period of effort, they noticed an unresponsive male inside the vehicle. The lone male occupant was later recovered from the vehicle and declared deceased.” The RVIPF said.

The white Grand Vitara was subsequently fished from the sea.

Police Commissioner Collins has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Detective France’s family and expressed his gratitude to the members of the public who lent their support during this devastating incident.

The RVIPF is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Detective France.

Anyone with relevant information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339.