Officer Cleared Of Sexual Harassment

A senior Navy officer was cleared of sexual harassment and other charges Friday and reinstated as commander of the Navy’s fourth-largest public works center.

Capt. Fred Dew, a 25-year veteran, had been reassigned from the Public Works Center on Dec. 9 pending an investigation. The allegations against him included sexual harassment of an employee and an unrelated charge of adultery.

The reinstatement was ordered after an investigation found a lack of evidence to support any of the charges, said Rear Adm. Gordon S. Holder, the commander of the Naval Surface Group.

A prominent Honolulu businessman had accused Dew of having an affair with his then-wife, whom Dew has since married.

Dew contended that disgruntled employees made the harassment allegations after he placed them under the supervision of a stricter manager.