Spolight
Twenty-Eight Year Veteran Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
By Major Anthony Thomas,
Commanding Troop “D”
How often do we hear the story of
a twenty-eight year veteran of the
Department still patrolling our roadways,
working nights in inner city high crime
areas amongst drug and gun violence,
and leading his fellow Troopers in arrest
activity? This is a story of dedication,
commitment, perseverance through
illness, and an inspiring example of
peer leadership.
That twenty-eight
year veteran is Trooper Edmund (Eddie)
DaCosta, a graduate of the 66th RTT and
a member of the Troop “D” Community
Action Team (CAT). For the past seven
years, Trooper DaCosta has patrolled
exclusively in the high crime urban inner
cities of New Bedford and Brockton. His
patrol abilities, keen instincts, skills and
policing practices are unmatched.
Trooper DaCosta’s exemplary work
product is a textbook collection of notable
arrests. A sample of his work includes not
only drug trafficking and gun arrests, but
arrests for crimes such as armed robbery,
breaking and entering, larceny of motor
vehicles, domestic abuse, stalking, assault
and battery, intimidation, receiving
stolen property, and operating under the
influence of alcohol. Since 2008, Trooper
DaCosta has made 328 arrests; in 2012 he
made ninety-seven! In the last year alone,
Trooper DaCosta has seized 4 automatic
firearms while on patrol; the most recent
case involved a lengthy foot pursuit
through the streets of New Bedford with a
18 year old subject. I guess one could say
… no tired legs here! Pretty good work
for a twenty-eight year veteran.
In recognition of Trooper DaCosta’