Street Renamed to Honor Fallen Tuscaloosa Police Officer Dornell Cousette

By The Associated Press

A stretch of a street in west Tuscaloosa now recognizes Investigator Dornell Cousette, a police officer killed in 2019 while trying to take a suspect into custody.

Some Tuscaloosa Police officers were surprised earlier this week when getting to work and noticing crews putting up the new street signs in Cousette’s honor. The City Council in August approved renaming 35th Street between Greensboro Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, “Investigator Dornell Cousette Street,” but there were delays in getting the new street signs up.

Officers told WBRC-TV they were happy to see it finally happened.

“It was very important for the city to honor investigator Cousette because he lost his life in the line of duty,” Tuscaloosa Assistant Police Chief Sebo Sanders said. “This shows his family, as well as the police department, the city is behind the police officers when they go out every day and protect and serve the city of Tuscaloosa.”

Cousette’s street intersects with Officer Trevor S. Phillips Avenue, a street named after a 10-year veteran of the department who was killed while escorting a funeral procession.

“This is a great way to honor two of our heroes,” Councilwoman Raevan Howard has said.