Police on Wednesday recognized a New Canaan High School graduate whose powers of observation and quick actions led to the arrest of three South Carolinians in July who had been trying to commit fraud at Walgreens downtown.
Grayson Cordes, left, receives a Civilian Service Award from New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski on Sept. 18, 2014. Cordes’ alertness and quick action led to the arrest in July of three out-of-state residents arrested for conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Credit: Michael Dinan
That’s where Grayson Cordes works as a manager, and he was “alert enough to notice something suspicious going on and called us,” Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said has he presented Cordes with the Civilian Service Award.
“We investigated and determined that these folks from South Carolina had come up here to commit a fraudulent gift card larceny. And in fact, they had done similar schemes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and up to New Canaan, and we caught them. Thanks to Grayson, thanks to our officers and we need more people like this to watch and alert us to things so that we can catch these people that come to commit crimes in New Canaan. That’s our goal. Grayson did a great job.”
Cordes, in addition to a framed certificate, received a $100 gift card from New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tucker Murphy at the top of Wednesday’s Police Commission meeting.
Krolikowski said police rarely issue the Civilian Service Award.
“Once a year, if that,” he said. “We don’t take them lightly, only when there is great cause for it. He [Cordes] has done a great job. He has been helpful in a lot of other investigations, too. Frankly, fraud and larceny are big things in our town.”