Police shooting lawsuit dismissed

Warwick — Last week a federal judge dismissed the $20 million lawsuit filed against the town and its police department over the shooting death of a Warwick man by police two years ago. On April 29, 2004, Anthony J. Costello Jr., 32, took police on a chase through the Village of Florida, into New Jersey, and back into Warwick. Two police cars were used as a road block to stop the car Costello was driving at the base of Cascade Road near Route 17A. Police said Costello continued to ram his car into the police vehicles and injured several officers who were trying to pull him from the car. It was then that Officer Ron Donnatin shot once at Costello. The bullet went through his arm and into his chest, striking his lung and aorta. He later died at St. Anthony Community Hospital. A grand jury looked into the shooting, which is standard procedure, and found no evidence of wrong-doing. Costello’s family later sued the town and the police. In a release to the media, Warwick police Chief Thomas F. McGovern Jr., defended his department and its actions. “All officials and police officers of the Town of Warwick remain saddened by the death of Anthony Costello Jr. on April 30, 2004,” said McGovern. “Only his family fully knows the demons, addictions, family problems, and legal troubles which may have driven Mr. Costello to make the choices he did on that day. However, both an Orange County Grand Jury and Federal District Court Judge Stephen Robinson have now confirmed that the actions taken by members of the Warwick Police Department concerning the death of Mr. Costello were appropriate and fully justified under the circumstances and the law.” In an interview with the Times-Herald Record, Costello family attorney Michael Sussman said the family will likely appeal. McGovern, although pleased with the outcome, said his department, as well as the Costello family, has suffered because of the events of April 29, 2004. He noted that Officer Donnatin, who fired the shot, had never before fired his weapon at a person. “It is tragic that Mr. Costello refused to stop and leave his vehicle peacefully despite numerous opportunities and requests to do so,” said McGovern. “Continuing to place blame on police officers under a legal duty to protect the citizens and other officers of this town for these events serves no purpose other than to prolong this tragedy. We are hopeful that we can now close this chapter as we continue to provide professional police protection and services to our community.”