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To help fund the mission for Hartford County resident Ryan Proulx, age 31, of East Hartford, the group has started a GoFundMe in an effort to raise enough money to keep the mission going now that the US Coast Guard has called off the search.
Shelby Morin, who started the fundraiser said that Proulx who worked for the East Hartford Police Department from 2017 to 2021, went missing around 6 p.m. on Friday, June 16 near the Bimini Barge Wreck about 1.5 miles west of the Bimini Inlet in the Bahamas.
The Coast Guard called off the search on Sunday, June 18 along with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Coast Guard officials searched more than 673 square miles, officials said.
Morin said the friends and family are putting together a group of volunteer divers who are "determined to help search for Ryan in the Bahama waters on their own time."
All money raised will be used to fly the dive team to the area and help bring him home in the "honorable manner that he deserves," she added.
Proulx reportedly runs a fishing charter out of Rhode Island for part of the year and trains police dogs the other half of the year.
"Let’s do what we can to help! If Ryan is found prior to this rescue trip, the money will go directly to his family!" Moran said
"Ryan, we are looking for you and they will not stop until you are found and bring you home!" she said.
To donate to the GoFundMe effort click here.
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