Officials are investigating an alleged incident where a sailor on a U.S. aircraft carrier tried to use a cell phone to capture images from a woman’s restroom.
The investigation comes as the Navy investigates a similar incident on the Georgia-based USS Wyoming, where female sailors were allegedly recorded while showering on a submarine.
The USS John C. Stennis was on a training exercise when a junior officer was caught standing outside the women’s bathroom holding a handheld electronic device, according to a document obtained by the Navy Times.
The officer, dressed in PT gear, had been allegedly holding the device so it could see through a ventilation grate, "positioned to view the interior of the female head.”
The Navy said the investigation was reported right away and the electronic devices confiscated.
One of the reasons the incident may have been reported so quickly is that the Navy has been emphasizing sexual harassment training.
Maria Luster is a Navy veteran who worked in one of the Navy's legal departments. She said that for a number of reasons, women are not as afraid as they once were about reporting incidents.
In response to the investigation, Commanding Officer Capt. Mike Wettlaufer said he was pleased with the swift action taken.
"However, I am pleased a shipmate stepped up to stop unacceptable behavior and reported it,” Wettlaufer said. “An NCIS investigation commenced immediately because our shipmate took action."
