By Amber Wysocki, Velocity Contributor
As Larry Costanzo stood in the middle of Dunkin’ Donuts with his finger on the trigger of the gun and the suspect armed and across from him, he had to decide whether to pull the trigger.
Waiting for backup, Costanzo trembled in fear.
“I drew down on him. I was so close to shooting that guy and killing him, it was unbelievable,” he said.
Costanzo and the suspect stared at each other. Costanzo had tunnel vision.
“I didn’t hear people, I didn’t hear cars, I didn’t see anything around me, I didn’t hear anything,” he said. “Luckily, I didn’t have to shoot, as backup pulled in.”
During alarming situations, Costanzo had to develop ways to keep himself calm.
“I made myself calm on the outside, but on the inside, I was thinking about all the possibilities that could happen when I got there,” he said.
“I made myself calm on the outside, but on the inside, I was thinking about all the possibilities that could happen when I got there.”
Larry Costanzo
Costanzo, 71, had dreamed about being a police officer since he could remember.
“I was probably about 17 or 18 years old,” he said. “I was a junior about to be a senior.”
However, the pursuit of his dream took a detour as Costanzo went from working as a car salesman to being a limousine driver and then becoming a dad. He began working in a car dealership, where he worked his way up to manager. It wasn’t until Costanzo was 40 that he was able to pursue his dream.
Costanzo’s neighbor, Chris Spears, was a detective and he knew that Costanzo dreamed about being a police officer. One day, Spears went over to Costanzo’s house and asked him if he wanted to ride along with him in an ambulance to help someone having a heart attack. At his age, Costanzo didn’t know that his dream was still possible, but he went along.
“I was hooked,” he said.
It was in that moment that Costanzo made it a goal of his to pursue his dream. He attended the police academy at the age of 40, pursuing a “young man’s job,” completing his training and passing the Illinois State Police power test–a 1.5 mile run, maximum bench press, sit and reach and a one-minute sit up test.
Despite the detour, Costanzo finally accomplished his dream.
“I was so happy at 41 years old to become a police officer. I was elated!” Costanzo exclaimed. “I made myself pass [the power test], even young guys couldn’t pass, but I did and I was so proud of myself.”
Costanzo began his police career at the Crestwood, Illinois, police department, accepting a better-paying position four years later at the police department in Palos Park. When on duty, Costanzo received a multitude of letters of accommodation praising him for his desire to help and care for the citizens around him.
Costanzo was on duty when a truck driver in Palos Park did not lower his truck down all the way and hit the viaduct. The driver, ejected through the front window of the truck, was in bad condition and was rushed to the hospital. Following the law, Costanzo had to issue a ticket for the driver’s negligence. Costanzo felt horrible about the incident, so he visited the driver in the hospital. The truck driver wrote Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller a letter expressing appreciation for the care that Costanzo had shown him.
“I really felt bad about doing what I had to do, but I did. I still did my job,” Costanzo said.
Costanzo’s care and compassion for others is the reason he became a police officer and continues in his daily life. Costanzo will go out of his way to help those who are in need.
“He is very friendly, outgoing and affectionate. He never lets me open my own door, he always insists on doing it,” Costanzo’s girlfriend, Vivian, says.
Unfortunately, life seemed to get in the way again, and Costanzo had to leave the police department 10 years into his duty to prioritize his health. He began having heart pains and required surgery to place stents into his heart. He was not allowed to return to the police force in case there was a police pursuit on foot and he didn’t have the physical capacity to run.
“I was offered a job on dispatch, but I wanted to be on the street. I loved the street.”
Larry Costanzo
“I was offered a job on dispatch, but I wanted to be on the street. I loved the street,” he said. “I’m so proud of what I did and how I did it. And I helped a lot of people.”
Costanzo moved on to a part-time job as a chef after retiring from the police force.
“I would love to return in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I’m 71 years old and I can’t. I’m an old fart,” Costanzo said, chuckling. “But yes, I would go back today, but I’m too old and I’m not able to physically do it.”
While Costanzo can no longer bench 260, he can initiate a conversation with someone he just met and put a smile on someone’s face.
“Helping people in a situation that they need help with is very very important to me,” he said. “I always wanted to help people. I still do.”
Velocity 
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