Butte Falls didn't go far to hire a new town marshal.

The Town Council gave the job on Wednesday night to Mel Ray, 50, a Talent reserve sergeant who already has been patrolling the community's streets under an agreement between Talent and Butte Falls.

"I was looking to get back into law enforcement and Butte Falls seemed to come along at the right time," Ray said.

Butte Falls Mayor Jack Brown said Ray has good experience for the job.

"I think he wanted to be a police chief of a small town, of course," Brown said. "He was in charge of 10 reserve officers in Talent."

Ray, who lives in Medford and is retired from the military, still needs to go through the state's police academy before he takes over the position full-time, Brown said.

Ray will be paid at least $20,000 a year, but the town is trying to get grant money to boost the salary, Brown said.

Ray is originally from the Salem area and he said he has worked as a police officer and for the Oregon Department of Corrections. He has been a reserve with the city of Talent since 1989.

Since 1985, Ray worked for the Oregon Army National Guard. He was stationed in Ashland and retired in April as a master sergeant.

Ray will replace Jared Brown, who was ousted a couple of months ago after a drinking incident at the Oregon Police Academy cost him his job. Jared Brown is not related to the mayor.

Butte Falls has been receiving help from Jackson County sheriff's deputies, and signed a six-month agreement with Talent to provide police services.

The agreement with Talent, which went into effect this week, will continue.

Brown said the town is trying to get a federal grant to hire another police officer.

He said that if Butte Falls can get the grant, it will try to hire one of the other six candidates who had applied.

Ray said he would like to get an officer into the Butte Falls schools, work more with youth and start a reserve program.