Search suspended for former East Hartford police officer who went missing free diving in Bahamas

The search for a former East Hartford police officer who went missing Friday while free diving in the Bahamas has been suspended.

The U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District said the search for Ryan Proulx was suspended Sunday after aircraft crews scoured more than 673 square miles.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the Proulx family,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer. “The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is one we never take lightly.”

Proulx, an officer for the East Hartford Police Department from 2017 to 2021, went missing Friday while free diving near the Bimini Barge Wreck about 1.5 miles west of the Bimini Inlet in the Bahamas, according to the Coast Guard.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Royal Bahamas Police Force assisted in the search for Proulx.