TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A veteran Tuscaloosa police officer, Dornell Cousette, was fatally shot on Monday night while in foot pursuit of a wanted felon. The incident occurred after Officer Cousette received a tip regarding the suspect’s location.
“Heroes come in many different forms,” said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. “Tonight, one of our heroes has died in the line of duty.”
Officer Cousette, 40, had served 13 years with the Tuscaloosa Police Department, according to AL.com. Interim Police Chief Mitt Tubbs stated that Cousette received information that a suspect with outstanding warrants for failure to appear on felony charges was at a particular residence.
Upon arriving at the home at 6:23 p.m., Cousette spotted the suspect on the front porch. The suspect immediately fled inside the residence. Cousette followed, and a gunfight ensued. Both Cousette and the unidentified 20-year-old suspect were wounded, according to Chief Tubbs.
A bail bondsman who was present at the home during the shooting was unharmed. Cousette, who sustained a gunshot wound to the facial area, was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. His body was then taken to Montgomery under police escort for an autopsy.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene but later appeared at a hospital in Northport, where he was taken into custody. The suspect had a prior arrest in 2017 on charges of robbery and assault. Failure to appear warrants and a bond forfeiture were issued against him on August 21. His medical condition has not been disclosed.
Cousette was also a veteran of the U.S. Army, having joined the police department in 2006. His death marks the fourth law enforcement officer shot and killed in the line of duty in Alabama this year, as reported by AL.com.
“It’s terribly difficult,” Tubbs said. “Every time you hear the phone ring, you just hope it’s not this call. And unfortunately today it was this call.”
“We are a family, and it’s very difficult to take,” he added.
This is Dornell Cousette. He was a @TuscaloosaPD officer, and he was murdered doing his job tonight. He had a fiancé and two children. Share this. #EnoughIsEnough
[https://twitter.com/PelhamPoliceAL/status/1174095888432234496](https://twitter.com/PelhamPoliceAL/status/1174095888432234496)According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Cousette is the Tuscaloosa Police Department’s 12th officer to die in the line of duty, with eight of those deaths resulting from gunfire. The last Tuscaloosa police officer killed in a shooting was Officer John Charles Thomas on Dec. 10, 1972.
VIDEO: BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT KILLED IN PURSUIT THAT REACHED 130 MPH
As of July 23, there had been at least 10 other officer-involved shootings statewide in 2019, resulting in three suspect deaths and seven injuries within the first six months of the year. These incidents occurred in Gardendale, Madison, Fort Payne, Birmingham, Brent, Huntsville, and Gadsden, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
“The violence that law enforcement faces is a significant issue, but it is also a reflection of a rise in violent crime being felt across the nation,’’ Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall previously told AL.com. “Alabama has already lost three police officers to hostile fire during 2019 – the greatest amount due to gunfire in a single year in our state since 2009.”
Cousette was a father of two daughters and engaged to be married. “He was a great officer. Everybody loved him,” Tubbs said. “You can tell by the number of people who arrived at the hospital when we got the news. He was well thought of throughout the department and he was a hero.”
Tubbs acknowledged the difficulty of the loss but emphasized the continued duty of Cousette’s fellow officers. “It’s something you try to prepare for. You know there’s a possibility it will occur,” he said. “It’s our duty to protect the citizens of Tuscaloosa. As tough as it is, that’s what we do. That’s what we’ll continue to do.”
Preparing for a police funeral is never easy, but the support of the community and fellow officers can provide some solace during this difficult time. The police family mourns the loss of one of their own, remembering his service and sacrifice.
Police suicide is also a serious concern, and departments are working to provide resources and support to officers facing stress and trauma. The loss of an officer can have a profound impact on the entire department and the community it serves.
Remembering lost partners is a way to honor their service and ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. The Thin Blue Line represents the courage and dedication of law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve their communities.
Cops die doing what’s right, and their memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved them. The community stands in solidarity with the Tuscaloosa Police Department during this time of grief, offering their support and gratitude for the service of Officer Dornell Cousette.