Fallen Officer: The Cousette Legacy

When Tuscaloosa Police Investigator Dornell Cousette was killed in the line of duty September 16, 2019, I never imagined I would be out in the middle of Highway 82 in Northport filming his funeral processional just a few days later. I don’t know that I’ve ever held a camera for a 7-mile processional as hundreds of vehicles from around the state and region took the 43-mile route from Shelton State Community College near Moundville, AL to Aliceville, AL. I also took photos and video all week long of the tributes laid at his car at Bryant Denny Stadium, candlelight vigils, flags flying at half-staff, of mailboxes and doors with blue ribbons, etc. As I watched how the community reacted to Cousette’s death, I decided to include my digital news class in on the newsgathering and production process since it was happening right where they walked by every day. So, I created a news content management system to hold all the research and content where the Cousette story aired or was published around the country, region, and state. Then I also created a book which I had published and presented to his daughters, brother, fiance, and brothers in blue.