The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Gil Zaccaro (right) has taken the reins as Police Chief at Black Butte Ranch after Hank Fegette's retirement.

Gil Zaccaro has taken the reins as Police Chief at the Black Butte Ranch Police Department.

Founding Chief of Police Hank Fegette retired this past month, to an outpouring of appreciation.

As his successor, Zaccaro has 29 years of experience in police work.

Zaccaro, who served for 14 years in North Bend, was picked from 33 candidates, who applied from as far away as Washington, D.C. and Tennessee. The selection committee consisted of local law enforcement officials and members of the Black Butte Ranch community.

"He's an Oregon guy," said Bob Lengele, chairman of the police board at BBR.

He also appears to be well qualified. Zaccaro graduated from the FBI Academy in 1982 with Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Zaccaro served for 28 years in the Navy and Naval reserves before retiring. He served the past two years as a chief of police in Quartzsite, Arizona.

Zaccaro says that he is glad to be back in Oregon. After spending a month following and working with Fegette, he's looking forward to his service in Central Oregon and appreciative of the man that came before him.

"This is a great job and Hank's made it that way," said Zaccaro.