LAPD officer Thomas Denton dies during dive training in Huntington Beach backyard pool
LAPD Officer Thomas Denton died on Nov. 5 during an on-duty dive training exercise in a private backyard pool in Huntington Beach. Sources told the LA Times he may have been testing a closed-circuit rebreather; the LAPD and Cal/OSHA are investigating.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2LAPD Officer Thomas Denton, a member of the Metropolitan Division and its dive team, died on Thursday, Nov. 5, during an on-duty training exercise in a backyard pool in Huntington Beach, California. The IndependentLC “Officer Thomas Denton, a member of LAPD's Metropolitan Division and dive team, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “suffered a medical emergency around 11 a.m. in a backyard pool located in the 17000 block of Crown Circle on Nov. 5.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2First responders were called to the home at around 11 a.m. over a drowning; Huntington Beach firefighters attended and Denton was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The IndependentLC “First responders rushed to a home in Huntington Beach on Thursday at around 11 a.m. after a call about a drowning in a backyard pool.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Huntington Beach firefighters responded to the scene and Denton was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2Sources told the Los Angeles Times that Denton may have been testing a closed-circuit rebreather, a device used by Navy SEALs and other military divers to stay underwater undetected; this has not been officially confirmed. The IndependentLC “Denton may have been testing a device known as a closed-circuit rebreather, which is used by Navy SEALS and other military divers to remain undetected under water, sources told The Los Angeles Times.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Denton may have been using a device called a closed-circuit rebreather, sources told the Times.” Read at New York Post ↗
Mixed · 2David McMurdie, co-founder of California Recovery Divers and a former chief of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department dive team, told the Times that a rebreather can put too much oxygen into the mix, through improper operation or an internal failure, and that the first sign is a seizure, which is fatal underwater. The IndependentLC ““Because of the way it was being operated or because of some failure inside the rebreather, it puts too much oxygen in the mix,”” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “the first signal you have that something’s gone wrong is you go into a seizure and you die because you’re underwater.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2The LAPD and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) are investigating; the incident happened at a private residence rather than a department facility, and the New York Post, citing the Times, says authorities are examining whether there were safety violations involving the diving equipment. The IndependentLC “The police department and California Division of Occupational Safety and Health are investigating what led up to the accident, which occurred at a private residence rather than a department facility.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Authorities are now investigating whether there were any safety violations related to the diving equipment Denton used” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2LAPD spokesperson Lt. Elpidio Orozco said the department is conducting a comprehensive investigation and will make its findings public at the appropriate time; the department declined to give further details. The IndependentLC ““The department is in the process of conducting a comprehensive investigation and will make the public aware of its findings at the appropriate time,” LAPD spokesperson Lt. Elpidio Orozco told the publication.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR ““The Department is in the process of conducting a comprehensive investigation and will make the public aware of its findings at the appropriate time,” an LAPD spokesperson said” Read at New York Post ↗
Mixed · 2Denton had served with the LAPD for 20 years (since 2006) and is survived by his wife and two children, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who ordered flags at the state Capitol lowered to half-staff. The IndependentLC “Denton had served with the department for 20 years and is survived by his wife and two children, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom who ordered flags at the state Capitol lowered to half-staff” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “had served with the LAPD since 2006.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2The LAPD said it mourned Police Officer-III Denton, who it said embodied courage, commitment and sacrifice, and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said his passing had deeply impacted the department. The Los Angeles Police Protective League said Denton's heart belonged to the Dive Unit. The IndependentLC “Denton served at the Metropolitan Division, "but his heart belong to the Dive Unit,” according to the Los Angeles Police Protective League” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Denton’s “passing has deeply impacted our department.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The cause of death has not been officially stated; the New York Post said it had contacted the Orange County coroner and Cal/OSHA for further information. New York PostR “The Post has contacted Orange County coroner and Cal/OSHA for further information.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent leads with the new details on the possible rebreather, then devotes much of the piece to tributes from the LAPD, Gov. Newsom and the police union.
- Emphasis
- Denton's career, family, and the memorial statements.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the date, the street location, or the Post's point that safety violations are being examined.
- For example
-
“Denton had served with the department for 20 years and is survived by his wife and two children” — The Independent
“"It was more than an assignment. It was his passion, and where he built lifelong friendships with those who shared his love for the work,"” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The New York Post frames the story as an unfolding safety inquiry, with an 'alarming' headline and a focus on equipment and possible violations.
- Emphasis
- The investigation, the equipment risk, and the home pool rather than a department facility.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Newsom's flag order, the union's tribute and the survivors.
- Charged language
- “Alarming new details”
- For example
-
“Authorities are now investigating whether there were any safety violations related to the diving equipment Denton used” — New York Post
“Alarming new details emerge in death of veteran LAPD diver who drowned during SoCal training exercise” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Denton died on Nov. 5 in a backyard pool in Huntington Beach during an on-duty training exercise.
- He may have been using a closed-circuit rebreather, according to sources cited by the LA Times.
- The LAPD and Cal/OSHA are investigating, and the LAPD has promised to release findings later.
- Denton was a veteran of the Metropolitan Division with about 20 years of service.
Los Angeles Police Department organisation
Mourns Denton, says it is conducting a comprehensive investigation, and will release findings at the appropriate time.
““The department is in the process of conducting a comprehensive investigation and will make the public aware of its findings at the appropriate time,”” — The Independent
Thomas Denton person
Remembered by the LAPD and the police union as a dedicated veteran who loved the Dive Unit; he cannot give his own account.
“"but his heart belong to the Dive Unit,”” — The Independent
Left1 article
-
New details emerge after LAPD officer died during dive training in backyard pool
Sympathetic Reports the rebreather theory via the LA Times and gives substantial space to tributes and the officer's family.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Alarmist Presents the death as raising safety questions, emphasising the equipment and possible violations.
- 11 Nov 20:19 First The IndependentLC New details emerge after LAPD officer died during dive training in backyard pool
- 11 Nov 22:26 +2h 8m New York PostR Alarming new details emerge in death of veteran LAPD diver who drowned during SoCal training exercise
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…