Career
He is best known for his role as a chief investigator in the Zodiac Killer case, which he began work on after the murder of taxi driver Paul Stine. Shortly after he left the South.F.P.D., Dave was the Director of Security for Saint Luke"s Hospital in San Francisco"s Mission District. Toschi is currently vice president of North Star Security Services in Daly City.
He was an advisor to the producers of the 2007 film Zodiac.
Actor Mark Ruffalo portrayed Toschi in the David Fincher film Zodiac. Steve McQueen copied Toschi"s distinctive style of quick-draw shoulder-holster by wearing his gun upside down for the 1968 movie Bullitt.
McQueen also modeled much of his Bullitt character on Toschi. Screenwriters Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink also modeled Harry Callahan, the main character of Dirty Harry portrayed by Clint Eastwood, on Toschi.
The film"s villain, based on the Zodiac Killer, was called "The Scorpio Killer" (portrayed by Andrew J Robinson).