LITTLE COMPTON — Last Thursday, Aug. 4, at its regular meeting the Town Council appointed Lieutenant Antone (Buzzy) Marion to the position of Police Chief for the Town of Little Compton.

Chief Marion has been acting chief of the department since former Chief Sidney Wordell retired June 30.

"I am very, very happy," said Chief Marion Friday morning. "I'm proud and honored to be the leader of this department, and of the men and women who are going to serve under me. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I was born here and have lived here all my life, and I've never moved out and returned."

In attendance when the appointment was announced were all members of the police department (except one, who was on patrol). The department has nine members.

Sgt. John Faria, a member of the department who had also applied for the position, was also in attendance.

Town Council President Robert Mushen said that after Chief Wordell announced his retirement last May, the town council decided to solicit applications first from within the department, before opening up the search to outside candidates.

Just two "inside" candidates — Lt. Marion and Sgt. Faria — applied. President Mushen said all five members of the town council interviewed both candidates, for an hour each, on Aug. 27, and decided to name Lt. Marion. No outside search was pursued.

A contract between the town and Chief Marion is being negotiated, and when finalized, will be presented to the council for approval when it meets on Sept. 18.

Chief Marion, as acting chief for the past two months, has been paid at the annualized rate of $80,921. His new salary rate has not yet been determined nor approved by the council.

In addition to a salary, Chief Marion will participate in a pension plan, and receive health benefits for which he will be making a contribution.

He will also be provided a car and cell phone.

Chief Marion is 54 years old. He and his wife Karen have two sons, Andrew, 21, and Jacob, 4, and a daughter, Anne, 24, who is married, and who with her husband has one three-year-old son, Logan.

About former Chief Wordell, who was in the audience Thursday night when the appointment was announced, Chief Marion said, "He was so beneficial to me, getting me to where I am today. There's a large pair of shoes to fill. He left the department running as smooth as could be, and going forward, that's the way I'm going to continue." Chief Marion is a 1988 graduate of the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy.