Alabama police officer killed in the line of duty

amphotora/iStock(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) — A 40-year-old police officer was shot to death in Alabama on Monday night, officials said.

Officer Dornell Cousette, a 13-year-veteran of the Tuscaloosa Police Department, was the father of two daughters and was also engaged to be married, according to Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.

“In our community, our heroes wear the police uniform of the Tuscaloosa Police Department,” Maddox said at a press conference. “And tonight, one of our heroes has died in the line of duty, protecting our city.”

“Heroes come in many different forms…in our community, our heroes wear the uniform of the @TuscaloosaPD.

Tonight one of our heroes has died in the line of duty protecting our community.”

@WaltMaddox

We will be forever grateful for heroes like Officer Dornell Cousette. pic.twitter.com/uFORMPext4

— City of Tuscaloosa (@tuscaloosacity) September 17, 2019

Cousette was shot while exchanging gunfire with a suspect inside a house in the city of Tuscaloosa, some 57 miles southwest of Birmingham. The officer was taken to a local hospital where he died, according to Tuscaloosa’s interim police chief, Mitt Tubbs.

The suspect, who was wanted on warrants for failure to appear for felony offenses, was also shot and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The individual is in custody, Tubbs said.

Cousette is the first Tuscaloosa officer to be killed in the line of duty since 2011.

“He was a great officer,” the interim police chief told reporters. “Everybody loved him.”

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print