Friends remember former Charleroi police chief
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Retired Charleroi police Chief Armand J. “Cack” Costantino was extremely dedicated to his city.
Costantino passed away Monday at age 71 from complications of COVID-19 and will be remembered by his friends and family as a true hometown hero.
From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a police officer in his hometown and hoped to one day rise to chief of police.
After serving 28 years on the force, working his way up the ranks, he was given the title he had hoped for one month before his retirement in 2007.
Those who knew him will remember him as an “old school” cop who cared deeply about his friends, family and his community.
Senior Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins shared many memories and firsts with his long-time friend over the years, from graduating high school in 1968, to joining the United States Air Force, marrying the loves of their lives two weeks apart in 1974 and welcoming the births of their sons only a few hours apart on Aug. 12, 1976.
“We were childhood friends,” Hopkins said. “It is truly amazing how things trended down through us over the years.
“We graduated together, joined the Air Force together, got married together, had our sons on the same day, became police officers together. All of those good things, those milestones happening at once. That’s how close we were and I’m really going to miss him.”
Hopkins said he has decades worth of memories to hold on to, but more than anything he hopes his friend will be remembered as a true Charleroi hero, because to many, that’s who he was.
“He was a good friend, a good buddy and I am very sad to lose him,” Hopkins said. “But he was a good officer, a good family man and a good friend. He was Charleroi through and through. He was proud of his home, he loved Charleroi.”
Charleroi Councilwoman Nancy Ellis was mayor when Costantino retired as police chief.
“That is all he ever wanted,” Ellis said. “To serve his town, his people. He was a true hometown boy.
“He cared about his guys, his family in blue, just as much as his own. He was a true Charleroi police officer and all he ever wanted was to be chief, so we made sure that happened for him before his retirement. It was a big deal to him, it meant a lot.”
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