School resource officer for the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, Manny Costa, will retire by the end of the school year, according to the Peabody Police Department.
Recently, Costa also retired from being the head wrestling coach at St. John’s Prep. He has also been inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame three times.
Peabody Police Chief Tom Griffin told the Item that Costa has made long-lasting impacts on students at PVMHS.
“Manny has done an outstanding job both at the PVMHS and as a coach at the St. John’s Prep,” Griffin said. “He truly has the students’ best interests in mind when he interacts with them and tries to connect with them in a positive fashion. He’s been known to help kids with their homework, picking classes, college searches and sports. He will truly be missed at the school as well as the police department.”
Peabody Police Lt. David Bonfanti, who has known Costa since 1997, said that he will always remember him coaching everyone he meets to make them better students, police officers, and human beings.
“He has a gift for letting people tell their stories so he can work with them to solve their problems,” Bonfanti said.
According to Peabody Police Capt. Scott Wlasuk, who is in charge of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division and also oversees the SROs, Costa has had a positive impact on so many students, athletes, faculty, and staff in both his roles as school resource officer and a wrestling coach at St. John’s Prep.
“As a colleague of Manny’s during his law enforcement career, a fellow long time high school coach and friend, it has truly been an honor to know him and to see the extraordinary dedication and commitment he has had for helping others throughout the years,” Wlasuk said. “He is also a tremendous parent, mentor and role model for his two sons who he had the privilege to coach during his Hall of Fame career.”
