Posted on 07/08/2009 10:40:14 PM PDT by nickcarraway
John Costa came to Palo Alto in 1978 as a 21-year-old with little more than a high school diploma and a desire to try his hand at police work. He left Monday to multiple standing ovations from a packed house at Palo Alto City Hall, where the city council gave him a hero's send-off.
"If there was a hall of fame for police sergeants, John Costa would be in it," said Interim Police Chief Dennis Burns. Costa, 51, worked his last shift Friday after more than 30 years in the Palo Alto Police Department. He said he plans to spend time at home in the South Bay with his family and friends and continue teaching at police academies. His most eventful year on the force was his first. In 1979, the police department was trying to catch the serial "College Terrace rapist," whose methodical attacks were menacing that neighborhood and other college districts around the Bay Area. Called out on reports of a prowler, Costa lured the suspect into the open by peeling out in his cruiser with lights blazing. Then he cut the lights, rolled back down the same street and confronted the man who turned out to be the rapist. Suddenly Costa was in the spotlight. "As a very young officer, I hadn't even gone to traffic court on a case," he said. "I hadn't even contested a speeding ticket. Here I was going to three different counties testifying in this high-profile case." He never had another arrest quite like that one, but he never receded into the shadows either.
In recent years, Costa became known by denizens of downtown Palo Alto as the "maitre d' of downtown" or the "nighttime mayor"
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
He’ll retire, collect benifits, and start a second career with the state. Makes me sick, retire at 51? really? BS
He made his choices, he put in the work, he earned it. I hope he lives long enough to double dip.
BTW... I retired at 53... loved it.
Class envy perhaps?
You mean CA going bankrupt b/c of a-holes and their unions?
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