Rebecca DePaula, a 31-year-old NYPD officer, wife, mother of three and pastor, has died in the Dominican Republic after complications following cosmetic surgery. Her family is now asking for an investigation into whether negligence or improper medical procedures played a role in her death, as per reports.
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DePaula had served with the NYPD for only about 18 months and worked out of the 46th Precinct in the Fordham section of the Bronx. Colleagues and the city’s Dominican officers’ community are mourning her loss, remembering her as a committed officer and a devoted family woman.
What actually happened
According to reports from Dominican media cited by U.S. outlets, DePaula traveled to the Dominican Republic for a procedure to remove her breast implants. Local reporting says she developed a bacterial infection after the surgery, and her condition worsened before she died at a clinic in Santo Domingo, according to a report by PEOPLE.
Her family has reportedly asked authorities to look into whether proper safety protocols were followed. They also want to know whether negligence contributed to the fatal outcome. The investigation is still ongoing, and officials have not publicly identified the clinic where the procedure took place.
"She felt she had to have it removed because it bothered her...The surgery here is very expensive. There, they do it cheaper, and look at the consequences," Elena Santana, her friend, told CBS News New York in Spanish.
A young officer remembered
DePaula’s death has hit the NYPD community hard because she was just beginning her career. She joined the force in January 2025 and, according to reports, was named the 46th Precinct’s officer of the month in March.
The New York Dominican Officers Organization posted a tribute calling her death a “tremendous loss.” In its message, the group said DePaula’s kindness, service and memory would not be forgotten and asked people to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers.
