New Rochelle Police Commissioner, Deputy Sworn In

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Mayor Noam Bramson issued the oath of office today to incoming Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola and Deputy Commissioner Cosmo Costa. Gazzola was appointed to be Commissioner by City Manager Charles Strome following the retirement last month of Police Commissioner Joseph F. Schaller.

Schaller, who retired on June 30, and was on hand to deliver remarks along with City Manager Charles B. Strome, III.

Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola was appointed to the Department in February 1986. He was promoted to Sergeant in September 1993, and promoted to Lieutenant in June 1996. While assigned as the Executive Officer of the Police Services Division, he worked at Ground Zero on September 11 2001 and there afterward on rescue and recovery efforts. In February of 2002 he was promoted to Captain, and assumed the duties of Commanding Officer of the Police Services Division. In December 2015 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the Criminal Investigations Division. In May 2018 Commissioner Gazzola was appointed to the position of Deputy Police Commissioner. He is the recipient of the Police Commissioners Award, 4 Class C Citations, 8 Commendation Awards and a Special Incident Citation. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Iona College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute of Police administered by Harvard University’s John F Kennedy School of Government.

Deputy Police Commissioner Cosmo Costa was appointed to the Department in September 1984. He was promoted to Sergeant in January 1993, and promoted to Lieutenant in December 1998. He served as the Departments Training Director for 15 years. In December of 2014 he was promoted to Captain, and assumed the duties of Commanding Officer of the Staff Services Division. In May 2018 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the Criminal Investigations Division. Deputy Commissioner Costa is the recipient of the Police Commissioners Award, 1 Class C Citation, 5 Commendation Awards and 2 Journal News Awards. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Iona College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute of Police administered by Harvard University’s John F Kennedy School of Government.