England: Police Officer, 43, Found Dead Days after Investigation over COVID-19 Rule Breach

A well-known police officer PC Doug Franks was found dead in his apartment days after an investigation was opened over him meeting a colleague during work hours.

PC Doug Franks was known to be a devoted cop and popular amongst the locals, but his body was found dead in his apartment after investigations were opened against him.

The late 43-year-old Franks was under investigation by the Sussex Police's professional standards department for allegedly meeting a colleague outside office hours.

Friends say that the meeting, which was tagged as a breach of COVID-19 rules, was simply a work-related meeting. Franks reportedly met up with a female colleague in a car to sort out some work-related paperwork.

The duo was spotted together and queried for meeting outside work hours. Franks was handed a fine for breaching COVID-19 rules, and later, he was told that he would be investigated for misconduct.

Franks, a father of one, was found dead in his apartment at Lee-on-Solent, Hants. His friends paid tribute to him. A friend remarked that Franks was not just a great cop but also a great dad to his devastated young son, who will no doubt miss him.

According to reports, two days after Franks' death, Sussex police lost another officer, 50-year-old Sergeant Sean Preston.

Franks was described as an officer who took joy and pride in his job and wore his badge with honor. Chairman of Sussex Police Federation, Daren Egan, commented on the sad loss and said that Franks was a larger-than-life character who was devoted to his son, job, and colleagues.

While he wished Franks' family all the love they could get, he also revealed that investigations were ongoing and no official statement could be released.

According to reports, two days after Franks' death, Sussex police lost another officer, 50-year-old Sergeant Sean Preston, who died weeks after testing positive to COVID-19.

A spokesperson for the force called the situation a terrible one and said that friends and colleagues alike are saddened by the terrible loss of two of its members.

Preston was described as a man who knew how to get along with everyone and earned the respect and love of colleagues and friends. Further details will be given in the coming days.