Former Tuckahoe Police Chief’s Wife at Center of Incident Now Under DA Review
An independent investigation is underway into the Tuckahoe Police Department’s handling of an August 14th incident that allegedly began in Yonkers and ended in Tuckahoe. The incident allegedly involved Donna Costanzo, the wife of John Costanzo, the retired Tuckahoe Police Chief who currently serves as Executive Director of the Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association.
Black Westchester has independently learned from sources familiar with the matter that Donna Costanzo was allegedly intoxicated and may have been involved in collisions with two vehicles in Yonkers before striking a third vehicle in Tuckahoe.
Sources also told Black Westchester that, following the incident, Costanzo was allegedly driven home by a member of the Tuckahoe Police Department rather than being taken into custody.
If those accounts are accurate, the circumstances raise serious questions that go well beyond the alleged collisions themselves: Who responded to the incident? Were standard police procedures followed? Why was Costanzo allegedly driven home instead of being taken into custody? And did her relationship to a former Tuckahoe Police Chief influence how she was treated?
The Village of Tuckahoe, the Tuckahoe Police Department, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office have not publicly confirmed those allegations.
After consulting with Mayor Cara Kronen and the Village Administrator, Tuckahoe Police Chief Larry Rotta determined that both the circumstances surrounding the incident and the police response warranted an independent review.
The Village subsequently contacted Westchester County seeking an outside investigation and was referred to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, which is now reviewing the matter.
A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office confirmed to Black Westchester that while Mrs. Costanzo’s actions are not under investigation, the police actions following the incident are “currently under review by our Public Integrity and Law Enforcement Bureau.”
In an August 20 statement provided to Black Westchester, the Office of Mayor Cara Kronen emphasized the Village’s commitment to transparency, accountability and an independent review:
“The Village of Tuckahoe is aware of questions regarding an incident that occurred on Friday, August 14th, involving a motor vehicle that entered the Village following an earlier incident in the City of Yonkers. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining the public’s confidence in our Village government and Police Department. To ensure that this matter receives an independent and impartial review, the Tuckahoe Police Chief, in consultation with Mayor Kronen and the Village Administrator, determined that the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent police response should be reviewed by an outside agency. Chief Rotta and Mayor Kronen firmly believe that absolute transparency is paramount in maintaining public trust and upholding the integrity of the Police Dept.”
It is encouraging that the Village of Tuckahoe has taken a proactive approach by referring the matter for an independent and impartial investigation rather than allowing it to be handled solely within the department. Public confidence in law enforcement can quickly erode whenever there is even the appearance that someone with connections to the police may have received preferential treatment. An outside investigation provides an opportunity for the facts to be examined independently, transparently and without favor.
At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the allegations surrounding Costanzo remain under investigation and have not been established as fact.
Ultimately, the review should answer three fundamental questions: What exactly happened on August 14? Were established procedures followed by responding officers? And did Donna Costanzo receive the same treatment that any other person would have received under the same circumstances?
That last question may ultimately determine whether this was simply an unusual police response—or an example of preferential treatment.
Stay with Black Westchester for the latest updates as more information becomes available.
The rules, protocol, and discretion clearly do not apply across the board. The impact of this to all parties involved is troubling. Transparêncy- thank you BW for this important share.✅🙏🏽
WOW! This should be all over the news! DISGRAC