Charleroi police museum to honor Costantino

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

The legacy of former police Chief Armand “Cack” Costantino will live on in the community room of the borough building when the Charleroi police museum is unveiled to the public later this year. 

Costantino, 71, passed away in January from complications of COVID-19. 

A dedicated “old school” police officer and a pillar in the community, he achieved his dream when he earned the rank of chief before retiring in 2007.

A few years ago, with help from long-time friend Dave DiPiazza, he started collecting memorabilia from fellow officers to preserve the history of the job, and the department, he cared about so deeply. 

The project was put on hold before Costantino’s death, but it will be finished in his honor by DiPiazza and Charleroi Councilwoman Jeannine Motycki.

Motycki said she knew Costantino since she was a little girl.

“I’ve known him my whole life,” she said. “Back in the day, all of the cops knew you and you knew all of the cops. If you got in trouble, one of them was taking you home to mom and you didn’t want that.

“Costantino was always very kind and sweet to me. When his wife, Paula, contacted me to ask me to take the lead to get this finished, it was an incredible honor to be able to do this in her husband’s memory.”

To pick up where the project left off, Motycki reached out to people she knew would be eager to help, including Charleroi Regional Police Chief Chad Zelinsky and Magisterial District Judge Eric Porter.

“Dave was also a crucial part of this project from the beginning and was on board, and Paula also wants to be involved as much as she can,” she said. “Chad and Eric did not hesitate to offer any help they can, too.”

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