Chief: Mistakes Made in Fairfax Co. Police Diver's Death

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - Sixteen months after a Fairfax County Police officer drowned during a training exercise, the chief of police admits mistakes were made.

Lt. Frank Stecco died while playing a victim in the chilly waters of Pohick Bay. He was in a dry suit when he suddenly vanished on October 21, 20008. Chief David Rohrer said Tuesday an investigation has found lapses in safety and oversight during the exercise.

Lt. Stecco was supposed to drift into the bay and be rescued by a police helicopter. But somehow, he sunk below the surface without being seen.

It took four days before searchers found his body about 100 feet from where he vanished. In an interview Tuesday, Chief Rohrer said investigators now believe they know what happened.

"Well, I won't say it's definitive. Some of it is going to be speculation. There were theories that we worked off of because Frank was by himself in the water, so we have worked through this and taken a look at a number of hypothesis, theories-- we've done some tests in the pool," said Chief Rohrer.

Chief Rohrer says in the coming weeks he will brief the officer's family on the results of the investigation, including any discipline that’s been handed out. Changes, the chief says, have already been made.

"Most of those changes are in oversight, in training and looking at having safety officers for example taking a greater role in this," the chief said.

Lt. Stecco had volunteered for the assignment. He was not on the dive team.

"There were lapses,” said Chief Rohrer, “and that is something we are taking a hard look at."

Lt. Stecco was 42 years old when he died, leaving behind a wife and three children.