BAZETTA TWP., Ohio - Bazetta Township Zoning inspector Pete Pizzulo has died after drowning in a lake in New York over the weekend.

According to a report from the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), deputies received a 911 call reporting a submerged swimmer at Chautauqua Lake on Saturday, June 21.

CCSO's marine division, as well as the Chautauqua County Water Emergency team responded, but were unable to locate anyone that day due to darkness.

The search resumed on Sunday, June 22 where investigators found Pizzulo's body with the use of side scan sonar from the New York State Police's underwater recovery team.

Bazetta Township Trustee Mike Hovis was saddened to learn of Pizzulo's death saying he and Pizzulo had been friends for more than 30 years.

Hovis said the two retired from law enforcement around roughly the same time with Pizzulo retiring from the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office in 2015 and Hovis retiring from the Bazetta Township Police Department in 2018.

Hovis added that Pizzulo was always dedicated to Bazetta Township as a zoning inspector always putting his community first and that he will be hard to replace.

Pizzulo had served as Bazetta Township's zoning inspector for roughly eight years according to Hovis.