|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
He launched his career by catching the College Terrace rapist and spent the next 30 years building sources, patrolling Palo Alto streets and racking up friends and awards.
On Monday night, police Sgt. John Costa triumphantly ended his tenure at the Palo Alto Police Department with three rounds of standing ovation from dozens of hooting, whistling, clapping and cheering friends and colleagues, who spilled out of the Council Chambers and into the City Hall hallway.
Costa also received a special proclamation from the City Council for his 30 years of service with the Police Department. Councilman Larry Klein, who spent nearly two decades on the council, said the reception Costa received from the public was the loudest he has ever heard in the council chambers.
“This far and away exceeds any ovation that anyone else has received,” Klein said.
Costa, known as much for his street sense as for his jovial disposition, became a full-time officer in Palo Alto in December 1979. Nine months later, the 22-year-old Costa was responding to reports of a suspicious person in the College Terrace neighborhood, which was terrorized throughout the 1970s by a man who raped dozens of women at night and in their homes.
Costa lured a suspect out of his hiding place by pretending to race off in his police car, only to turn the car lights off, make a U-turn and return to the neighborhood. He then found the man, Melvin Carter, who after further investigation turned out to be the rapist. Monday’s resolution -– approved unanimously by the council — praises Costa, who, “employing creative and inventive police work, stopped and identified the College Terrace rapist” during his rookie year.
Since then, Costa has earned respect around the city, even at a time when the police department was reeling from accusations of racial profiling. Even Aram James, who is one of the most vehement critics of the Palo Alto Police Department, lauded Costa in his recent speech in front of the City Council.
On Monday night, Interim Police Chief Dennis Burns said he was extremely proud of Costa, whom he called a “very dear friend” and a “true professional.”
“If there was a Hall of Fame for police sergeants, Sgt. Costa would be in it,” Burns said.
“John treated people with dignity and respect,” Burns added. “Within the organization, John was able to understand the complexity of the job and was technically and tactically superb.”
Costa told the Weekly he plans to take the summer off and then hopes to get back to training new officers at a police academy. On Monday, he thanked the council for the proper send-off but noted that he is most grateful for the reception he received from the community he served.
“Of all the accolades and tributes one gets at this stage in life, there’s no greater tribute than the response I received from the community -– the people I’ve been privileged and honored to work with all these years,” Costa said.
Our family sends our thanks and very best wishes to Officer Costa for many years of excellent work!
Enjoy your retirement!
John has been the face of the Palo Alto Police department for our neighborhood for many years. He always made himself available to all of us and I will miss him, his good humor, and his willingness to engage. Good luck, John.
I wish John and his family a long and Happy life with a very
big Thank you for all the years he served Palo Alto with great kindness and compassion. We will miss you John. Good luck in your future endeavors.
Our star gazing will be less bright without you there. We love you and look forward to many years of friendship. Thanks for keeping watch over us. Yasou from Greece! We will see you soon. God bless you!
Johnny C… There is a spot waiting for you in Palo Alto North… you know where that is… Cmon!
I Will miss Him, I remember the good old days. As a teenager growing up in Palo Alto. During the early 80s. I had a few run ins with him. Mostly trying to out run him on my BMX. I also remember him shuting down some good parties in my day.
For under age drinking.
John Costa – a very good man. He’d always check on our house when we’re out on vacation. Old school in the best sense.
John Costa is truly a “Good Guy.”
Sorry we couldn’t join you for the wonderful ceremony at City Hall last night, John. You are an incredible role model and we are honored to know you. You have made a huge difference to our family and our children have a relationship with the Palo Alto police because of your leadership, charisma and straight-forward manner. Good luck with all of your future endeavors. We hope to cross paths with you in the future.
You helped me out when my car was stolen & our interactions ever after were warm & memorable. You were so apologetic for not being able to catch the bad guys, but wowza, your team gave it your all!
Palo Alto was a better city w/you working it, and you’ll be much missed. Thanks for being able to put up w/all the ridiculous bs through the years; you always kept your eyes on the goal, which was to protect & serve.
I know you’ll pass on your knowledge & mentor young officers. Enjoy your retirement!
Great job John. Best regards and wishes.
John Costa was the coolest cop I’ve ever met. A true man of integrity and the most approachable person to ever wear the uniform. I just wish there were more like him. Good luck in your future endeavors!
John Costa is one of the finest Sergeants and Officers I have ever met and had the pleasure of serving with. He is the standard by which we all should hold ourselves. He has always been there when situations required leadership, knowledge and the ability to remain calm under fire. As a resident and an Officer with an allied agency, I will miss hearing his voice over the radio when I call for help. Thank you John.
T
John,
Congratulations on an amazing career, being the best of the best and setting the bar high. I am proud to know you and call you my friend. Cheers to a wonderful retirement, it is your time to relax and enjoy your family and friends! We love you Johnny! Rick and Lisa
Sergent Costa is the most amazing, most effective public servant I’ve ever met. Best wishes on your retirement and I hope our paths cross again. You will be missed by so many!
I wish I would have known yesterday’s event at the council chambers before. I worked for Sgt. Costa for many years at the PD and can honestly say that he was the best supervisor I have ever had there, or at any job. I wonder if he got his retirement wish! Good luck Sarge!
Best wishes, John!
susan
Wish I knew about the ceremony earlier, I would have loved to be there. I had the pleasure of meeting Sgt. Costa only once, over a good ole’ American hot dog at 2 in the morning. But in that short time, he came across as a very kind-hearted, experienced professional who genuinely cared about the work he was doing. Best of luck to you, Sgt., and thank you for your service to our city.
Congratulations! Thanks for all you’ve done! Espresso is waiting for you any time you want! Ciao!!!
Never has the good/bad fortune to meet him, but he sure sounds like a tribute to the force and to the community he served. I hope there are more like him.
John! We’ll miss ya! Good luck in new things to come 🙂
Buona Fortuna!
John, The reaction of the community at your send off and in these comments are a tribute to your amazing character. Your sincere respect and love for everyone you encountered was felt by all. I’m proud to be your sister-in-law and excited that we have you home more often now (at least for a little while)Love you, Michele
John, congratulations on your well deserved retirement. Our family is so proud of all you have accomplished in your career. I know you will be missed by everyone in Palo Alto. We have fond memories of meeting so many in that community when we visited you. You will be a great mentor for the future police force in your community. Stay safe and well. We love you.
The Heitkempers
Congratulations, John. I clearly remember the wonderful time we (your wife, your sister-in-law Kathy,and her three friends) had visiting the San Francisco sites with you as our tour guide. It is a wonderful memory that I will always cherish. Enjoy your retirement and be proud of all of your achievements in law enforcement.
Linda Mendel (close friend of Kathy and Tim Heitemper)
Dear John,
What an incredible outpouring of thanks and respect from your department and community! It must have been overwhelming to see so many people give such a rousing response to the kind of integrity, service and ‘heart’ you gave to the community for 30 years.
We always knew you were/are a great guy, but this tribute points to your goodness even more. Our world needs more people like you, who work hard and truly care about the people they serve.
Congratulations on your retirement and God bless you in the years ahead.
Enjoy your well-deserved summer off.
Frank and Kathy Fanger
neighbors
Uncle John,
You are most awesome my friend. The above article is an understatement on many accounts. You are a great advisor who has helped and inspired many and beyond that a great radio personality. Thank you so much for being my consiglieri over the many years, Banutza