John Cordes

John Cordes (1890 - ?) was an NYPD detective and the first one to win the department's Medal of Honor twice. He retired in 1949.

MORE ON JOHNNY CORDES: A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME

We all know people who consider themselves a legend in their own mind – but JOHNNY CORDES is truly a LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME.

As mentioned in a prior posting to this site, JOHN CORDES is one of only 3 members of this department who have ever received two Medals’ of Honor – and he is the only live recipient of the second award.

The following story was written by Retired Det1 John T.M. Reilly – a true department historian who never ceases to amaze me with the knowledge he possesses. I thank John once again publicly for all he has done, and continues to do, in the name of keeping the New York City Police Department and its members in such high esteem.

The exploits of a member of this department such as JOHN H.F. CORDES should be known by all who carry the shield of the NYPD – and should be taught to those who enter this profession, in the Police Academy, the way the US Marine Corps teaches its newest grunts during Basic Training.

A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME

John H.F. Cordes joined the New York City Police Department on August 24, 1915.

While still in the Police Academy he was picked, because he did not look like a cop, to work on vice and gambling enforcement. After less that three years in plainclothes arresting gamblers he was made a detective on February 11, 1918. The rest of histhirty-four year career was spent in the Detective Division, during which he was twice awarded Department Medal of Honor.

At about 9pm on March 29, 1923, while off-duty Cordes became suspicious of two men who had entered a United Cigar Store at 954 Lexington Avenue between Sixty-ninth and Seventieth Streets.

Waiting a few minutes he followed them into the store and found them in the process of robbing the store.

After entering the store one man, Patrick Ahearn, had stayed in front of the counter, while the other, John Whitton alias John Insford - an escaped convict from East ViewPenitentiary in Westchester County - walked behind the counter, drew a .45 caliber pistol from his coat pocket, then ordered the clerk, William Horn, to open the safe. The safe was opened by Horn and the robber pocketed $80 taken from the safe.

As Cordes and his brother walked into the store, one of the robbers ordered Horn to "Wait on them." Sizing up the situation Cordes drew his pistol; as he did soanother man entered the store. This man was also a policeman, off-duty Sergeant McDade, who seeing Cordes covering the two men behind the counter, opened fire on Cordes believing him to be a robber.

McDade fired four shots at Cordes hitting him three times.

Cordes fired at Ahearn in front of the counter; he dropped to the floor wounded.

Whitton, also behind the counter, fired at McDade; as he did so Cordes cried out"I'm a police officer." Then both Cordes and McDade fired at Whitton behind the counter. Whitton continued to fire at the officers, hitting Cordes twice. Hit in his right hand and arm Cordes had to fire with his left hand. With his revolver empty McDade backed up to the door, opening it he then blew his whistle for assistance. Blocking the door he prevented the wounded Ahearn and Whitton from leaving the store until other police officers, alerted by his whistle calls, arrived and took the two robbers into custody.

Cordes was rushed to Presbyterian Hospital where it was found that he had been shot five times, twice by the robber and three times by the police sergeant. Bullets had struck his right shoulder, his right arm twice, his jaw, and another had passed through his righthand.

At first little hope was given that Cordes would recover from his wounds; the intern who first examined him told reporters that it was just a matter of hours before he died.

But he did recover, and when Mayor James Walker visited him in the hospital and offered to retire him on a full pension, he refused the offer, saying that his only fun in life was putting hoods in jail.

He returned to duty and at the 1924 medal ceremonies received the Department Medal of Honor.

The Official Police Department Citation for The Medal Of Honor reads as follows:

Acting Detective Sergeant John H.F. Cordes, Shield No. 472, Detective Division, at about 7.50 p.m., March 29, 1923, while riding south on Lexington Avenue in an automobile, observed two men enter the United Cigar Store at 954 Lexington Avenue. Being suspicious, Detective Cordes entered the store under the pretense of purchasing cigars. Two men were behind the counter, and as the detective asked to be waited on, one of the men ordered the other to wait on the detective. From their actions Detective Cordes concluded that they were impostors, and made known his identity. One of the men drew a revolver and fired, the bullet hitting Detective Cordes' right thumb. As one of the men came from behind the counter Detective Cordes fired, though injured, the bullet entering the criminal's abdomen. The man who previously fired at the detective fired three more shots, and one of the bullets lodged in Detective Cordes' shoulder. Despite his injuries the detective covered his men and summoned assistance. He was in the hospital and on sick leave for six months.

Police Department regulations required that all police officers carry their firearms at all times, even if off duty. It is noted that following the United Cigar Store shoot-out Cordes constantly violated the rules by not carrying his weapon.

When asked why he did not carry his revolver he would reply that he was still afraid that he might get confused in times of stress and shoot a fellow officer as he was shot.

Because of this answer his superiors overlooked his violation of the department rule. In 1927 because he had left his gun back in his locker it almost cost him his life.

On April 28, 1927, kidnappers abducted wealthy real estate operator Abraham Scharlin and demanded at first a $500,000 ransom which was later reduced to $200,000.

A team of six detectives from the Main Office Squad which included Cordes and his partner Detective Frank Walsh was given the case.

Acting on a "stool pigeons" tip that a criminal known as Jack Thompson, alias Joe Marcus, was part of the gang, Cordes and Walsh, who both knew him, placed him under surveillance.

On May 6th Marcus was seen to meet with another man later identified as David Berman, known as "Dave the Jew", at Broadway and Sixty-third Street. As they walked in the direction of Central Park, Cordes saw Berman shift a pistol from his hip pocket to the front of his belt.

While the two criminals were watching some boys playing ball in the park, Detective Walsh went to find a telephone to call Headquarters. Cordes remained in the park keeping the pair under observation. Right after Walsh left to make the phone call, Marcus and Berman started to leave the park.

Cordes, fearing that they would separate and he would lose them, hurried out to the street.

With Walsh nowhere in sight, he motioned to Motorcycle Patrolman Richard O'Connor and told him to cover him. Marcus and Berman came out of the park at Sixty-second Street, walked up Central Park West and turned into Sixty-sixth Street. Cordes had followed them, while O'Connor had dismounted from his motorcycle and stayed further back.

Berman stopped in front of 6 West Sixty-sixth Street, and Cordes decided to make his move.

As he closed in on them, Berman suddenly made a move to draw the pistol from his belt.

Cordes jumped at him, grabbed his wrist, gave it a quick turn away from the gun, then grabbed it himself striking Berman over the eye and knocking him down to the pavement.

While Cordes was subduing Berman, Marcus backed away a few feet, drew a pistol and aimed at Cordes.

Patrolman O'Connor, who was rushing up to assist Cordes, saw the gun aimed at the detective and fired one shot that struck Marcus in the stomach, dropping him to the sidewalk.

Marcus was removed to Roosevelt Hospital where he died shortly after.

Berman who had received a two-inch gash over his eye was taken to the West Sixty-eight Street Station House.

When questioned he refused to say anything other than "I can't tell you anything, do you think that I want to get in any deeper than I am." A search of Mascus' clothes disclosed an Elk membership card belonging to Scharlin and a number of checks belonging to a James Taylor, another kidnapping victim. The next day the gang released both Scharlin and Taylor and made their get-away.

For his part in the arrests of Berman and Marcus, Cordes received his second award of the Department Medal of Honor.

Patrolman O'Connor was offered promotion to Detective, but declined it saying that he preferred to remain on motorcycle duty. At the 1928 medal day ceremonies he received the Charles H. Sabin medal.

The Official Police Department Citation for his Second Medal Of Honor reads as follows:

Detective John H.F. Cordes, Shield No. 472, 17th Division. At about 4. p.m., May 5, 1927, had two notorious criminals from Chicago under surveillance and intercepted them on 66th Street near Central Park West, Manhattan. Previously he had directed a patrolman on motorcycle duty to be on the alert for emergency assistance. As one of the men was about to shoot Detective Cordes, the patrolman shot and killed the thug. The other was disarmed of a loaded revolver and arrested.

Cordes was promoted to Sergeant on February 15, 1928 and on March 2, 1934, to Acting Lieutenant. In 1938 he was given command of the Manhattan Riverfront Squad. He retired from the department on January 1, 1950. He died at the Hollywood Memorial Hospital, Florida, April 19, 1966, at age 76 years.

Special Note: During the modern era of NYPD awards from 1912 to date only three members of the department have been awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor twice. John Cordes was the only live recipient of two awards.