08.12.2011 0

Provence & Côte d'Azur: "The National Police is saddened by the loss of one of its members"

Injured policeman dies in hospital

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced the death of officer Eric Lales, the brave policeman who was shot during a police chase in Vitrolles on Monday 28th November. The Head of State has paid tribute to Eric's courageous bravery as he helped the public "up until the very last moment of his life."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced the death of officer Eric Lales, the brave policeman who was shot during a police chase in Vitrolles on Monday 28th November. The Head of State has paid tribute to Eric's courageous bravery as he helped the p
French President Nicolas Sarkozy pays his respects to fallen police officer Eric Lales.

President Sarkozy released the devastating news to French media this morning after visiting the Nord hospital in Marseille. 37-year-old Eric Lales, a police officer from the Aix-en-Provence force, was shot once in the head and twice in the shoulder by a Kalachnikov automatic weapon during a police pursuit in Vitrolles. The shoot-out occurred in the early hours of Monday 28th November, after a criminal gang was stopped by police, suspected of conducting a series of robberies in the area. 

According to TF1, more than 30 bullet holes were found on the responding police car, including 14 in the windshield. David-Olivier Reverdy, regional secretary of police union Alliance said that it was "a heinous act that marked the deliberate killing of a policeman."

The officer leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.  

Sarkozy has assured the country that "absolutely everything will be done to ensure that criminals who commit such heinous crimes are severely punished and bought to justice."

Sarah Lloyd

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