James Cousins II

James Cousins II is an Erie, Pennsylvania police officer who was videotaped in a bar, while off duty, describing the demise of a homicide victim in what has been called a disrespectful manner.GoErie.com: Cop's Action...Plainly Wrong (April 19, 2009)

Cousins told the Associated Press on April 22, 2009, that he embellished the truth to make himself seem more important when he mocked a murder victim in a videotaped conversation. Cousins apologized to the victim's family in a letter, which said that he had "brought great shame to a good city."Associated Press: Videotaped remarks were embellished (April 22, 2009)

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and The Reverend Michael T. Williams, president of Erie's African American Concerned Clergy, called for his resignation. Cousins was suspended pending further investigation.GoErie.com: Cop's Action...Plainly Wrong (April 19, 2009)

On March 28, 2009, Rondale Jennings Sr. was shot in the head while he was outside of the Bullpen tavern.

Cousins described the death of Jennings to his friends, while drinking at a bar. Without his knowledge, Cousins was being videotaped, as he laughed about the victim and demonstrated how the victims leg twitched, while stating, "he's twitching like a f------ chicken." He also commented that there is "one less drug dealer to deal with and "I swear to God it looked like ...out of a movie. It was ...perfect."Greenwhich Diva: Police officer James Cousins II... (April 19, 2009)

After the video surfaced on YouTube, the Erie Police Department tried to get the video removed from the Internet, and went to find the video maker instead of condemning the actions of the officer.GoErie.com: Cop's Actions, City's Response... (April 19, 2009)