Detective Cousin is gone
but never forgotten

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

John Cousin is tragic proof that police officers never truly go off-duty.
Cousin, a Philadelphia detective and Northwood resident, was supposed to have a night off on Aug. 15, 1996, when he decided to go for a walk in his neighborhood. But duty called upon him anyway.
Instead of saving a fellow citizen from violent crime, Cousin had to defend himself against four armed robbers on the 5300 block of Oakland St. When the trio jumped him, a gun battle ensued.
The assailants shot Cousin, of the 1200 block of Haworth St., five times. The officer, who was assigned to South Detectives, fired back and wounded two of the bandits. But Cousin’s own injuries would prove fatal later that night. He was weeks shy of his 49th birthday.
On June 13, Cousin’s family, fellow officers and the community honored his ultimate sacrifice by unveiling a memorial plaque at the spot where the attack occurred, on the corner of Bridge and Oakland streets.
The plaque is the 36th of its kind set in sidewalks across the city since 2001 as part of the Hero Cops program. Local attorney Jimmy Binns initiated the effort in 2001 with support from the police department, the Fraternal Order of Police, local labor unions and businesses and civilian sponsors.
Cousin’s former colleagues in the Philadelphia Police Boat Team, formerly the Dragon Boat Team, sponsored his plaque.
"John never really was off-duty," Jim Wheeler, FOP Lodge 5 vice president, said during the dedication ceremony. "And true to his reputation. John, while critically wounded, managed to fire his gun and demobilize one of his assailants."
Cousin’s return fire struck one of the robbers in the thigh and another in the hand. The officer’s efforts assisted investigators in bringing all four involved individuals to justice.
A jury found two suspects guilty of second-degree murder. They were sentenced to life in prison. A separate jury found a third assailant, the getaway driver, guilty of robbery. He later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and is serving a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.
The fourth suspect pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
Cousin’s sister, Viola Cousin-Reed, was made well aware of her brother’s commitment to his profession early in the Frankford High graduate’s 26-year career.
Other relatives at the ceremony included the officer’s mother, Viola Cousin; uncle David Cousin; and cousins Tom Cousin, Mary Greer, Robert Griggs and Catherine Osten-Rider; along with Greer’s husband Fred.
Cousin-Reed often recalls "how he always didn’t want to worry us."
"One time, he came home at night with a bandage on his arm," the officer’s sister recalled. "I asked him what the bandage was. He said he broke up a fight and got cut. Then he said, ‘Don’t tell mom and dad.’ For six weeks, he wore long-sleeve shirts."
Cousin was not married. His son, Christopher, 14 at the time of the murder, followed his father in death. Cousin’s granddaughter, Juliana, is now 4.
The officer left a lasting impression of kindness on his peers.
"John was just one of those people who made it easy to get along with, to work with and to like him," Wheeler said. "… Members of the Philadelphia Police Department will always consider this ground sacred because of John Cousin’s sacrifice."
"I worked with John at South Detectives," said Detective Ray Evers, speaking for members of the Boat Team. "John was a good guy. John was a true, true gentleman. John was my friend." ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com