Flags to fly at half-staff for former South Lake Tahoe Police Chief and El Dorado County Supervisor Dave Solaro

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Once called the "cornerstone" of South Lake Tahoe, Dave Solaro left his mark on a community he represented for 36 years, first as a police officer, then through the ranks to the police chief, director of public safety, and El Dorado County supervisor.

Solaro passed away Tuesday in Hilton Head, South Carolina, his home since leaving South Lake Tahoe in 2005. He was 78.

He first entered law enforcement in Oakland, California where he was an officer for 4.5 years. Dave then moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1969 where he was sworn in as a patrolman at a police department that was just four years old. In just one year he was promoted to sergeant, then to lieutenant in 1976. He became a captain in 1985 then beat out 76 other candidates for police chief in 1992.

During his tenure at the City of South Lake Tahoe Solaro also served for 18 months as director of public safety and oversaw the fire department as well.

After retiring from the City, Solaro ran for two terms as El Dorado County Supervisor representing area 5, the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers region. He was at the end of his second term when his doctor advised him to move from high elevation, prompting the move to Hilton Head, South Carolina where he lived with his wife until his death.

Public service did not end with that move as he served his new community as a member of Palmetto Electric’s Board of Directors.

"What a great friend he was," said former South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tom Davis. Davis was working the gate at Beach & Harbor, now known as the Ski Run Marina, in the late 1960s when he met Dave. The two became fast friends and then roommates.

"He was my best friend," said Davis. "We had some great times together."

Davis drove with Solaro across the country, helping with the move to the other coast.

As a county supervisor, Solaro opened a Lake Tahoe district office for District 5, and helped bring the Juvenile Treatment Center (JTC) to South Lake Tahoe so local families wouldn't have to travel to Placerville to visit their young family members who had found themselves in trouble. He brought additional ball fields to the community, the plans for a new animal shelter, and added highway call boxes.

"He never stopped thinking of Tahoe," said South Lake Tahoe Chamber CEO Duane Wallace, a long-time friend of Solaro's. "He served us in a lot of ways. There is what he did and who he was - a solid guy who loved this town and a wonderful administrator. We talked often and he was concerned about the future of the Juvenile Treatment Center."

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Dave Solaro. He was a great and valuable contributor to our community,” said South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace. "Dave was the driving force behind the county building our Juvenile Treatment Facility when he was District V Supervisor. When Dave served as our police and fire chief, he saw the need for Tahoe kids to be housed in Tahoe while serving their juvenile sentences. He fought hard to make that happen. Dave Solaro represented this community exceptionally well. He will be missed.”

Solaro held a master's degree in organizational management from Cal Poly Pomona. The other supervisors unanimously endorsed his plan to begin a "stakeholder assessment" process, which included creating an eight-to-twelve member steering committee and hiring a neutral facilitator. Solaro's goal was to work through the growth issues that polarized El Dorado County for years back then, including the general plan, and Measure Y, a 1998 initiative that requires development to fully fund new roads.

"I came to South Lake Tahoe in late 2002, and in the time that he served, I found him to be one who energetically supported his District and the people who live here," said former South Lake Tahoe City Manager David Jinkins. "He was accessible and interested in the welfare of his community. He had opinions but also listened, a quality that is needed for there to be good governance."

"I followed his work and very much respected him for his many years of commitment for the county," said current Supervisor Sue Novasel. "I will be asking our next Board of Supervisors meeting end in his memory."

In honor of David Solaro, El Dorado County will be flying flags at half-staff for 72 hours and the City of South Lake Tahoe flags are at half-staff through May 5.

The family is having a small private memorial in South Carolina.