BAZETTA — Before he was the township zoning administrator, Pete Pizzulo was an investigator at the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office and played a significant role in numerous cases, including the infamous Claudia Hoerig case.

Pizzulo drowned over the weekend at Lake Chautauqua in New York at age 63. Pizzulo, who served as Bazetta’s zoning administrator and code enforcement officer since 2018, was spending the weekend with his wife when the tragedy occurred. His career spanned law enforcement and public administration.

Before working in Bazetta, he was zoning inspector for Vienna and retired from the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, where he was a detective and served on the dive team. He also worked as a police officer in Brookfield and McDonald.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, who worked with Pizzulo on major cases in the 1990s and early 2000s, praised his meticulous evidence collection and testimony.

“He worked on a number of my significant cases, including the Hoerig case. He was recognized by our homicide investigation unit for his work on crime scenes,” Watkins said. “In my long career, he’d be on the short list of excellent police officers for evidence collection and testimony. I feel very badly for him, his wife and his family. So very sad.”

On Saturday, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a submerged swimmer on Chautauqua Lake near Chautauqua Institution. The Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team and the department’s marine division responded but could not locate the swimmer.

The search was paused Saturday because of darkness and resumed Sunday, with Pizzulo’s body located around noon by the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team using side-scan sonar. The sheriff’s office was aided by North Lake Fire Department, Bemus Point Fire Department, Lakewood Fire Department, and state police divers.

Assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Chris Becker echoed Watkins’ sentiments, also mentioning Pizzulo’s precision in the 2019 Hoerig trial, despite the case originating in 2007. “Pete (Pizzulo) was concerned because it had been 12 years, but his notes and evidence cataloging were so precise, and he was great on the witness stand,” Becker said. “He was meticulous, hard-working, but a fun, genuine guy — always with a smile. It’s shocking, given his dive team experience and fitness, that this happened in a lake. My heartfelt condolences to his wife and family.”

Warren Township Trustee Ed Anthony, a retired law enforcement officer and friend, said he was devastated by the news.

“I’m beside myself. Pete was a good friend and a good officer, dedicated to serving the public,” Anthony said, noting Pizzulo’s frequent trips to Lake Chautauqua with his family.

Becker added personal reflections on Pizzulo’s character.

“He was kind, helpful, and genuine. When I ran for office last year, he eagerly put up signs for me, expecting nothing in return. He was a great father and husband. In my years working across eastern Ohio, Pete Pizzulo is one of the top professionals I’ve encountered,” he said.

“Pete was very dedicated to serving the residents of Bazetta Township. He always worked hard to make our community as good as it could be. He will be sadly missed,” Township Trustee Chairman Mike Hovis said.