By RON GOWER

TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM

Carbon County has a new sheriff.

Dan Zeigler of Franklin Township, who was the chief deputy in the sheriff’s office, was sworn-into his new position during a ceremony held Monday in the Carbon County Courthouse.

Zeigler succeeds Tony Harvilla of Tresckow, who has served as sheriff since 2016. Harvilla retired effective 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The oath of office was administered by Carbon County Judge Joseph Matika. The judge also gave the oath of office to 11 deputies.

Zeigler, a graduate of Panther Valley High School and former resident of Lansford, has more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement. He had worked in Northampton County since 2014 and came to the Carbon County Sheriff’s office in 2020 as a captain. A few months later, he was named chief deputy.

Watching Zeigler take the oath were his partner, Lynn Williams, and daughters Zoe and Avery.

Judge Matika asked him before swearing him in, “Are you ready to assume the new office of sheriff?”

He responded, “Yes, sir.”

He said, “I plan to uphold the integrity of the sheriff’s office.”

The new sheriff thanked Harvilla for the opportunity.

All three Carbon County Commissioners - Wayne E. Nothstein, Rocky Ahner and Chris Lukasevich - were in attendance for the event. Also attending was District Attorney Michael Greek.

Judge Matika heaped praise on Harvilla’s tenure as sheriff. Matika said that when he started practicing law in 1988, Harvilla was already working for the county in the probation office.

“You have come full circle,” the jurist told him.

Judge Matika said, “You have brought the security of the Carbon County Courthouse into the 21st century. You have done a tremendous job for the citizens of Carbon County.”

Harvilla was hired in Carbon County on Oct. 31, 1977, and was named a probation officer on Jan. 1, 1980. He became chief probation officer and served in that capacity until 1989 when he transferred to the federal probation office of the Middle District of the United States. He was the Chief Probation Officer in the Middle District for 21 years until he retired in July 2014. He then decided to run for sheriff in 2015 and won the election.

Numerous relatives were on hand for Harvilla’s final day in court, including his wife Cheryl and sister Denise Harvilla.

Former county commissioner Tom Gerhard, who represented Congressman Dan Meuser, presented a citation from Meuser to Harvilla.