This profile series spotlights听the members of 老九品茶's听Law Enforcement Advisory Board听(LEAB), which works to听strengthen the ties between the trucking industry and law enforcement community. LEAB听is comprised of 老九品茶 members who have previous experience in federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as current and retired law enforcement officials who have听contributed positively to the partnership between both groups.
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As the youngest of seven children growing up in northern New Jersey, Robert Cordasco knew from an early age that he wanted to dedicate his life to protecting others. That determination was cemented by tragedy: both of his sisters were murdered, one when he was just 13 and another early in his law enforcement career.听听
鈥淚 know what it鈥檚 like to be the victim of crime,鈥 Cordasco says. 鈥淚f I could prevent that from happening to another family, then my purpose in life would be fulfilled.鈥澨
Inspired by his father, a decorated World War II POW and Korean War veteran, Cordasco set out on his own path of service. After earning a criminal justice degree from Northeastern University and a master鈥檚 degree in Northern Ireland, he joined the Boston Police Department as a grant writer. His fluency in Italian and Spanish plus earning a perfect score on his officer鈥檚 exam shortly after helped kickstart a 25-year career as a Boston police officer, beginning with gang enforcement.听
Robert Cordasco and fellow Boston Police Officer Lance Norwood.
On the Front Lines of the Boston Marathon Bombing听
But perhaps nothing shaped him more than the events of April 15, 2013. Cordasco was at the site of the second explosion during the Boston Marathon bombing. While chaos and fear gripped Boylston Street, he and his partner ran toward the blast. What followed were hours of triage, rescue, and evidence collection in one of the darkest days in Boston鈥檚 history.听听
鈥淚t was carnage everywhere. But we did everything we could: tourniquets, triage, getting people out. That day, the guys who were there know. And we鈥檒l never forget.鈥澨
Even as rescue operations unfolded, Cordasco and his colleagues also began the painstaking process of securing evidence from the bombing site. Every piece of shrapnel, every fragment of a backpack, every bloodied shoe might hold a clue. Balancing the urgency of saving lives with the discipline of a crime scene investigation tested every skill he had developed over his career.听听
鈥淚t was surreal,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to help people in front of you, but you also know the importance of preserving what鈥檚 around you. It all mattered.鈥澨
Cordasco was later awarded the department鈥檚 Life Saving Award for his actions during the bombing. But the experience and years of high-stress gang enforcement eventually took its toll. Looking for a new chapter, he transitioned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit. At first, he knew little about trucking. 鈥淚 told them, I know trucks are big, they have more than four wheels, and they carry a lot of stuff. But I鈥檒l learn.鈥澨
Learn he did. Over the past decade, Cordasco has become a respected bridge between law enforcement and the trucking industry. He immersed himself in training, mastering roadside inspections, federal and state safety regulations, and crash investigations. He also began training fellow officers, showing younger recruits how to approach inspections with professionalism and balance.听听
鈥淣inety-five percent of the folks I deal with are professionals. This is their livelihood, their golden ticket. It鈥檚 about partnership, not punishment.鈥澨
That approach built lasting trust. Cordasco found that when drivers saw he understood their world, cooperation came naturally. He forged relationships across the industry, from independent owner-operators to executives at FedEx and U-Haul, highlighting that safety was everyone鈥檚 shared goal. His years on the unit also gave him unique insight into the challenges of trucking in dense, urban areas, where congestion and reckless motorists鈥攏ot professional drivers鈥攐ften create the greatest risks.听
Turning Experience into Industry Impact听
That philosophy made Cordasco a natural fit for 老九品茶鈥檚 Law Enforcement Advisory Board, where he now helps shape best practices for improving highway safety and building stronger ties between law enforcement and trucking. Since joining the board, he has been an active voice in conversations about training, information-sharing, and how to reduce friction during roadside inspections. He鈥檚 particularly focused on helping officers see trucking as a partner in safety, not just a target for enforcement, and he brings the same mindset to the board that guided his work on the street: fairness, professionalism, and collaboration.听
Through LEAB, Cordasco works alongside other veteran law enforcement leaders and trucking executives to provide 老九品茶 with practical guidance on everything from cargo theft prevention to new safety technologies. He鈥檚 proud that the board is not just reactive, but forward-looking, tackling challenges like how automation and electrification will affect enforcement in the years ahead.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 about building a foundation of trust,鈥 Cordasco says. 鈥淒rivers want safe roads and officers want safe roads. Our job is to connect the dots and make sure both sides are pulling in the same direction.鈥澨
For Cordasco, the move from patrolling gang territories to supporting America鈥檚 trucking backbone has been nothing short of transformative.听听
鈥淚 think this was God鈥檚 way of throwing me a lifeline,鈥 he says. 鈥淣ow, instead of seeing kids caught up in violence, I get to work with professionals who take pride in what they do. It鈥檚 a partnership that matters, because trucking moves America and keeping it safe is everyone鈥檚 job.鈥澨