Photos by the best action photographer, Steve Moreno. “I carried my camera all the time. The is the Pharmacy Robbery on D street around 1976? And the last one is from the Flatiron Building Fire about the same time or a little earlier. Woody would take me for rides in the police car, one time I saw this kid running and I told Woody to pull out his gun and shoot him before he got away. My uncle said, “I can’t do that, he didn’t do anything.” I said he’s running so he did something. Never a call on it so Woody was right and I would have shot em just for being late for a date or something. However, he might have rather been shot then to face the date he was late for. Notice I broke the lines to get the money shot of the arrest. Without that it wouldn’t be complete?”
Hurry up and wait, hurry up and waitThe sergeant giving directionWoody in patrolRunning to troubleWell armed, I might addMobilizingGetting equipmentDetective Woody Hoke giving directionTaking cover
by Woody Hoke, Jr. Was it the crisp morning air or the fact our search for the shooter was coming to an end that made my skin shiver?
“Code-4, Code-4, suspect in custody” came the muffled words from inside the garage. What does this guy look like? What was his reason for shooting an unarmed man? Did he know Mike was a police officer? How will I feel about him when I first get a glimpse of him? Will I feel anything? Should I feel anything?
Not only did he shoot an unarmed police officer but a co-worker, a close friend, someone I went to department functions with, socializing at each other’s houses. The more I think about it now, the angrier I am becoming.
Somebody please take these weapons from me.
Hours earlier, I received a phone call from my brother and fellow San Rafael Police Officer Tony, telling me that Mike Costello had just been shot–possibly by a burglar at his house in Novato, Ca. Mike only lived about a mile from me as did many other police officers I worked with. Sometimes we rode to and from work together. “Close” is not the proper word for it. “Brotherhood” tops “close” by a long shot.
The NPD SWAT team had made entry into the garage and found the shooter in an attic garage. As he was being brought out, I could barely see his face–probably because I didn’t really want to look at him. I didn’t want to have actions overcome my thoughts and feelings.
Soon, the thought of him being in custody was enough to feel calmer, give me that feeling of accomplishment that comes to all police officers for a job well done…and we did it for one of our own.
