Solving crimes is his reward

When Santo Montecalvo reported for work at the 17th Police District on Nov. 6, 1988, he had no idea it would be his last day as a cop.

An 11-year veteran of the force, Montecalvo was pursuing a robbery suspect with his partner when a police wagon slammed into their unmarked car near 27th and Reed streets.

The wreck wrapped around a utility pole, leaving Montecalvo pinned in the passenger seat without any feeling in his legs. He suffered extensive back injuries in the accident.

"That was the end of my career," said the 53-year-old.

The finality was painful for the native of the 2000 block of McClellan Street, who knew by age 12 that he wanted to be a cop. At the time, Montecalvo could not guess that he would solve crimes again, albeit in a different way.

In 1990, he heard of an opportunity with enough of a tie to law enforcement to interest him.

Montecalvo’s former lieutenant in the 17th District, Bill Smith, recruited him to work for the Citizens Crime Commission of Delaware Valley as a tip-line operator. Smith was the organization’s vice president at the time. Now, Montecalvo holds that post.

"It was close to being a cop again," he said of working the phones. "I always wanted to be a cop. Ninety percent of living is loving what you’re doing. When you wake up every day, you have to be happy going to work because, if not, you’re going to have a long life."

THE CITIZENS CRIME Commission is a nonprofit, independent, non-governmental agency that operates in conjunction with area businesses and federal, state and local law enforcement bureaus to prevent and solve crimes. The best-known facet of the commission is its anonymous tip line, which allows the public to report information on crimes. To be eligible for a reward, a caller must obtain a code number from an operator.

The commission is offering a $10,000 reward for a nearly 3-year-old homicide in South Philly. Terreke Peterson, 24, was shot in his head Aug. 16, 2002, on the 1700 block of Snyder Avenue. The victim, who lived in Overbrook, was killed on his way to see his newborn son and the child’s mother, who lived on the block, Peterson’s mother Brenda said in a 2004 interview.

Perhaps the most high-profile local investigation in which the commission is involved is the disappearance of Richard Petrone Jr., 35, of South Philly, and Danielle Imbo, 34, of Mount Laurel, N.J. The couple were last seen Feb. 19 leaving Abilene bar, 429 South St. Police have found no trace of the pair – including Petrone’s black 2001 Dodge pickup truck – and the case has garnered national attention. The commission is offering a $100,000 reward for information.

Citizens often report tips on crimes that have no money attached, said Montecalvo, whose primary role is supervising the tip line. He calls the tip line a bridge between the community and law enforcement.

"We don’t care who you are. We just want to get information to get these people off the street. The only involvement is information – that’s it," Montecalvo said.

The anonymity has been crucial in getting many people to come forward. By remaining unknown, witnesses or, in many cases, an accomplice can contact the tip line without further involvement of fear of retaliation, said Montecalvo.

The commission relies on the theory that many people who commit a crime confide that information in someone.

"When you tell one person, it’s no longer a secret," Montecalvo said.

WORKING AT THE commission has reunited Montecalvo with his former police boss, John Apeldorn, who, as crime commission president, is once again his supervisor.

Apeldorn was captain of the 17th District from 1985-86 and handpicked Montecalvo for a special burglary detail.

"He did outstanding police work on the street and he had excellent arrest statistics. That’s the kind of officer who gets picked for that detail," Apeldorn said.

In the early- to mid-1990s, Apeldorn also served as captain of the Homicide Division before moving on to the Organized Crime Unit. He became president of the commission in the late 1990s.

"He’s a great worker, a great asset to the crime commission," Apeldorn said of Montecalvo. "He does a great job with the tip line. A lot of times he’s up all hours of the night coordinating with the various law-enforcement entities. His street knowledge is a great asset in dealing with the various tip callers. He just knows how to talk to them to get as much information as possible."

While many in law enforcement claim to be unaffected by what they see on the job, Montecalvo said he is not immune. Crimes involving children and the elderly are the hardest to handle, he said.

"People come in each and every day and you hear their story about their kid – and it gets to you," he said.

Montecalvo and wife Loretta have three children: Christina, 29; Santo Jr., 25; and Michael, 20. They also have two grandchildren: Dominica, 4; and Dante, 4 months.

Because of the nature of his job, Montecalvo did not want to say where he lives, but he talks freely about his South Philly background.

Montecalvo attended the now-closed St. Edmond’s grade and middle schools at 23rd and Mifflin streets and 22nd and Moore. From there, he went to St. John Neumann. In the 1980s, he coached the St. Monica football team and also coached other football, basketball and indoor soccer leagues in the area. In addition, Montecalvo worked as a summer camp counselor at Dixon House, 1920 S. 20th St.

After high school, he enlisted in the Navy, where he spent 1970-71 stationed on the USS Little Rock in Norfolk, Va.

Montecalvo graduated from the Police Academy in 1977, becoming the only police officer in his family.

The most rewarding part of working for the crime commission is getting a phone call from a police jurisdiction reporting an arrest has been made, said Montecalvo.

"Knowing I’ve helped bring closure to the family gives me tremendous satisfaction," he said. "Closure isn’t going to bring back a loved one, but [the family] needs to move on to the next phase of their life."

To report information on a crime, call the tip line at 215-546-TIPS.