Two Police Officers Sentenced in Drowning of Young Diver Amandine Giraud
In a tragic case that has drawn significant public attention, two police officers from the Paris river brigade were sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended, by the Paris Criminal Court on September 20, 2023. The officers, Julien R. and Vincent E., were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter following the drowning of 27-year-old police diver Amandine Giraud in the Seine River during a training exercise on January 5, 2018.
The court's decision comes after the prosecution had initially sought harsher penalties, requesting a two-year suspended sentence for Julien R., the more experienced diver, and an 18-month sentence for Vincent E., the boat's skipper. Despite the conviction, the court ruled that the officers' sentences would not appear on their criminal records, a point emphasized by the president of the 10th chamber during the proceedings.
Amandine Giraud, described by her mother as a "young, sunny woman" who loved the water, disappeared during a training session in a narrow arm of the Seine near Notre-Dame Cathedral. The river was under a yellow alert at the time due to high water levels, with a flow rate of 900 m³ per second. Giraud's body was tragically discovered nearly four months later, about 100 meters from where she had vanished.
During the trial, the defense argued that the officers acted according to their training and the protocols in place. Julien R. stated he wanted to prevent a second accident by detaching Giraud's lifeline, believing it would keep her afloat. However, he later admitted that a malfunctioning tap on her vest contributed to the incident. Vincent E. expressed regret, stating that the exercise should not have taken place under such dangerous conditions, acknowledging that he lacked the information and competence to intervene effectively.
The case has raised serious questions about safety protocols in police training exercises and the accountability of officers in charge. The public outcry over Giraud's tragic death has also highlighted the need for stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- The incident has led to calls for a thorough review of the safety measures and training protocols employed by the Paris police, especially concerning water-related exercises. The National Police General Inspectorate (IGPN) noted that there were significant professional malfunctions on the day of the tragedy, underscoring the urgent need for reform in police training practices. Amandine Giraud's family has expressed their deep frustration and anger over the handling of the search for their daughter, claiming that there was a lack of urgency in the initial response to her disappearance. Her mother lamented that for months, no one actively searched for Amandine, leading to a sense of betrayal by the police force she had dedicated her life to serve. As the community mourns the loss of a promising young officer, discussions around police accountability, training adequacy, and the importance of mental health support for officers involved in traumatic incidents have gained momentum.
