CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN DIEGO : Captain Removed in Sex Case Inquiry

Navy officials announced that a ship’s captain was relieved of duty and two sailors under his command were being investigated for possible sexual misconduct. Lt. Cmdr. D. J. Oswald was removed from command of the Safeguard, said Lt. Cmdr. Frank Thorpe, a Navy spokesman in San Diego. The Safeguard, a Pearl Harbor-based salvage and rescue ship, was at the Alameda Naval Station in the Bay Area. Navy officials said Oswald was stripped of command pending an investigation into allegations of fraternization and sexual harassment aboard the ship. Sources familiar with the probe said Oswald himself is not charged with fraternization or sexual misconduct, but was relieved of duty because his superiors believe he failed in a leadership role when the two sailors aboard his ship engaged in a sexual affair. Sources said the two sailors are a male officer and a female enlisted woman. The U.S. military has a policy that prohibits higher-ranking officers from “fraternizing” with subordinates. The allegations came to light during a routine visit to the Safeguard by members of the Navy inspector general staff.