Dornell Cousette
Agency patch
Investigator

Dornell Cousette

Tuscaloosa Police Department — Tuscaloosa, AL
Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch September 16, 2019
Age 40
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 170 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Dornell Cousette was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant at a home near the intersection of Short 17th Street and 33rd Avenue at 6:25 pm.

The subject, 20, was wanted for failing to appear on prior felony charges and had been located at his home by a bondsman. When Investigator Cousette arrived at the scene to assist, the man ran inside the home. Investigator Cousette pursued him inside, where the man opened fire. Investigator Cousette was struck in the face. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and wounded the subject.

Investigator Cousette was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject was arrested after showing up at the hospital as a result of his gunshot wounds. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2026.

Investigator Cousette was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Tuscaloosa Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

Survivors include two daughters and fiancée.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-64208281
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Investigator Cousette gave the Tuscaloosa Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tuscaloosa community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, AL
Platform Identity tpd.tuscaloosa.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 16, 2019
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Dornell Cousette served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Investigator Dornell Cousette is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 9.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Tuscaloosa Police Department, 9 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Tuscaloosa Police Department
9
of 12 officers
75% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% Felonious
Nationwide
17,559
of 32,586 officers
53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dornell Cousette's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,559 (53.9%)
Accident
10,094 (31%)
Illness
3,037 (9.3%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
334 (1%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)

How Dornell Cousette Compares

Age at End of Watch
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dornell Cousette is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dornell Cousette was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Dornell Cousette served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Dornell Cousette’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.