Street renaming ceremony to honor fallen Tuscaloosa police officer Dornell Cousette

Jasmine Hollie, The Tuscaloosa News
·1 min read
The City of Aliceville renamed 5th Street SW Investigator Dornell Cousette St. in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21, 2020. The Tuscaloosa Police Investigator who was shot and killed in the line of duty in September 2019 grew up on the street. Cousette grew up on 5th Street. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]
The City of Aliceville renamed 5th Street SW Investigator Dornell Cousette St. in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21, 2020. The Tuscaloosa Police Investigator who was shot and killed in the line of duty in September 2019 grew up on the street. Cousette grew up on 5th Street. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

The city of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Police Department on Jan. 28 will hold a street renaming ceremony in honor of fallen Investigator Dornell Cousette.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held at 10 a.m. at the Tuscaloosa Environmental Services building, 3440 Kauloosa Ave.

The city chose to rename 35th Street between Greensboro Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Cousette's honor because that's the road Tuscaloosa police officers most frequently use at the end of their shifts.

The city approved the change to Investigator Dornell Cousette Street in November 2021.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall brought honors in memory of Investigator Dornell Cousette who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty in September 2019 Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Tuscaloosa River Market. Marshall speaks with members of the Cousette family. From left are Marshall, Jacqueline Minor, Lydia Craig, Sylvia Cousette and Jaclyn Craig. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Cousette, 40, was killed in the line of duty in 2019. He served in the Tuscaloosa Police Department for 13 years and earned several awards of excellence for his service and dedication to the youth of Tuscaloosa.

He has also earned posthumous honors. In October 2020, Cousette's home town of Aliceville named a street after him.

In April 2021, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall held a tribute for Cousette in Tuscaloosa, presenting Cousette's daughters with a praying hands plaque and a framed proclamation.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall brought honors in memory of Investigator Dornell Cousette who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty in September 2019 Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Tuscaloosa River Market. Cousette's daughter Sylvia Cousette holds a pair of praying hands presented by Marshall. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall brought honors in memory of Investigator Dornell Cousette who died from injuries suffered in the line of duty in September 2019 Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Tuscaloosa River Market. Cousette's daughter Sylvia Cousette holds a pair of praying hands presented by Marshall. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Cousette died after an exchange of gunfire erupted while he was serving felony armed robbery and assault warrants against a wanted suspect on Sept. 16, 2019.

On Sept. 22, 2019, about 2,000 community members and sworn law enforcement officers packed the gym and the atrium at Shelton State Community College for Cousette's memorial service.

After the memorial service, thousands of residents lined the major highways and rural roads of Tuscaloosa and Pickens counties, saluting the seven-mile long funeral procession that led Cousette to his final resting place in Aliceville.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Street to be renamed to honor fallen police officer Dornell Cousette