DATE: Monday, August 4, 1997                TAG: 9708040046

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Correspondent Jane Harper researched and wrote this report. 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...LITTLE CREEK'S CO?

About 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28, state police charged Capt. David A. Schwiering with driving under the influence of alcohol on Route 44 in Virginia Beach. Schwiering, who had begun serving as commanding officer of Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base just three months before his arrest, registered a blood alcohol level of 0.13, police said; the legal limit is 0.08.

Capt. Schwiering was relieved of duty after his arrest and was temporarily reassigned to Norfolk Naval Base.

He resigned from the Navy on June 30 after serving in the service 26 years, said Barbara Jennings, a public affairs officer for the Little Creek base. Jennings did not know whether Schwiering had intended to retire at that time or if his resignation was a result of the DUI case.

Schwiering, 50, now works as a manager for Vail Technology in Arlington, according to his court file.

He pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge in December but was found guilty by the court. He was placed on one-year probation, his license was suspended for a year and he was ordered to participate in the Chesapeake Bay Alcohol Safety Action Program. He also was fined $250 and ordered to pay $79 in court costs.

Schwiering was replaced by Capt. Leroy A. Brown, a former commander at Naval Surfaces Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

At the time of Schwiering's arrest, a spokesman said the Navy relieved Schwiering of duty before his case had been resolved as a matter of policy.

The Navy has adopted a ``zero-tolerance'' policy for alcohol abuse. Ship captains, aircraft pilots and others in positions of leadership also have lost their jobs as the result of DUI charges.

Schwiering's attorney, Chris Christie of Virginia Beach, was out of the country last week and could not be reached for comment. Schwiering also could not be reached. According to a court file, he has moved to Fairfax. MEMO: Whatever Happened To. . . appears every Monday, and we welcome

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