Tuscaloosa Street Renamed in Honor of Investigator Cousette
February 9, 2022
On Friday, January 28, the City of Tuscaloosa held a street renaming ceremony for Investigator Dornell Cousette who lost his life in the line of duty on September 16, 2019.
Cousette’s death had an impact on Tuscaloosa and even now, his sacrifice for the city is still being heard as the community, City leaders, and police officers gathered at the Tuscaloosa Environmental Service building for the ceremony.
Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley opened the ceremony by explaining the significance of the street. Now known as Investigator Dornell Cousette Street, 35th St. between Greensboro Ave. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. was chosen to honor Investigator Cousette because it is the street most Tuscaloosa Police Officers use to return to the police station at the end of their shift.
Throughout Cousette’s 13 years at the Tuscaloosa Police Department, he showed devotion to the fight against child sexual and physical abuse. As a juvenile agent, he earned many departmental awards of excellence.
During the ceremony, the president of the Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police presented Cousette’s daughters, Lydia and Sylvia, with medals of honor in remembrance of their father who died while attempting to serve a wanted felony suspect.
“Dornell Cousette was a hero in a uniform, and now, he will forever be remembered as one,” Mayor Walt Maddox said during his remarks. “For decades to come, this street will be a perpetual reminder of his courage and sacrifice.”
