The Navy SEAL captain who was fired Wednesday from his command of Navy Particular Warfare Group Eight had been arrested for driving inebriated in January, in response to courtroom data.
The Virginia Seaside courtroom data present that Capt. Richard Zaszewski was arrested Jan. 19, 2024, for driving whereas intoxicated, or DWI, with a blood alcohol content material between 0.15% and 0.2%. The authorized restrict is 0.08%.
Naval Particular Warfare Command, which oversees Navy SEAL groups, introduced that Zaszewski was relieved of command Wednesday for a “lack of confidence in his capability to command,” making him at the least the second Navy commander to be relieved over consuming and driving this yr.
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A Navy official would not touch upon why the aid befell greater than two months after the arrest however did affirm that the 2 have been associated.
Navy Occasions was the primary publication to report the cost.
In keeping with the courtroom data, the cost is taken into account a misdemeanor, and that is Zaszewski’s first DWI. He was launched on his personal recognizance following the arrest.
Army.com reached out to Robert Morecock, Zaszewski’s legal professional, however didn’t instantly hear again.
Courtroom data present that Zaszewski’s subsequent courtroom listening to is about for Might 15, and it doesn’t seem that he has entered a plea within the case.
Usually, firings over arrests transfer a lot sooner, taking days, not months.
On Jan. 15, the Navy additionally relieved the commanding officer of the USS Georgia sub’s blue crew — Capt. Geoffry Patterson — after he was arrested within the early hours of Jan. 9 on fees together with driving beneath the affect and improper lane change.
In keeping with the Camden County Sheriff’s Workplace, the place Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is situated, Patterson was launched on bond after a cost of greater than $1,800.
Zaszewski spent practically 20 years assigned to “East Coast-based Particular Warfare Units” — a broad time period that Naval Particular Warfare Command makes use of to keep away from figuring out which particular groups SEALs are assigned to — in response to service data launched by the Navy.
He has beforehand been awarded the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars with one “V” gadget for valor, a Fight Motion Ribbon, and marketing campaign medals for Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve, amongst different awards, in response to his service report. The Silver Star Medal is the third-highest award a service member will be awarded for displaying heroic acts of valor in fight conditions.
Zaszewski is at the least the fifth firing of a Navy commanding officer in 2024. Navy officers have beforehand mentioned the service relieved 15 commanding officers in 2023.
Deputy commodore Capt. Stig Sanness assumed the duties of commodore for NSWG-8, Lt. Cmdr. Chelsea Irish, a spokesperson for Navy Particular Warfare Command, informed Army.com on Wednesday.
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