The body of a scuba diver mssing since Wednesday morning was recovered Friday by searchers from the Virgin Islands Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and other local law enforcement groups.
The body, identified as Lt. Benjamin Rios of the VIPD, was found at about 11 a.m. about 26 nautical miles northeast of St. Croix.
Rios was one of three people who had gone diving near Buck Isand Reef Wednesday. At about 8 a.m. the pilot of the boat could not find Rios, according to the report from the U.S. Coast Guard. Coast Guard helicopters along with V.I. Police and other groups searched Wednesday and Thursday before finding Rios Friday.
Rios, 55, joined the Virgin Islands Police Department in December 1983. He was an avid fisherman and put those talents to use in the VIPD as commander of the Marine Unit for many years. He also commanded the Special Operations Bureau, K-9, Hazardous Devices and Bomb Squad. Lt. Rios was scheduled to retire from the department in December.
Police Commissioner Novelle E. Francis Jr. extended his condolences to the family of Lt. Rios.
“On behalf of Assistant Commissioner Raymond L. Hyndman and myself, the sworn officers and civilian staff, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Lt. Rios and to his extended police family," Francis said. "His absence will be deeply felt throughout the department. He touched many lives, trained many officers, he was an excellent and dedicated officer and a genuinely great man. He will be missed by all.”
