Corporal Joseph Thomas Cushman, Arlington Police Department, Texas

Corporal Joseph Thomas Cushman

Arlington Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Thursday, June 7, 2001

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Joseph Thomas Cushman

Corporal Joseph Cushman was accidentally shot and killed while performing training for a school shooting.

A group of officers were conducting training at a local junior high school when Corporal Cushman was shot in the head. All of the officers involved were wearing helmets and vests and were supposed to be using rubber bullets.

Corporal Cushman and a second instructor were demonstrating a drill to other officers when the other instructor's weapon discharged. The school year had already ended, and no students were present during the training exercise.

Corporal Cushman had been employed with the Arlington Police Department for four and one-half years and had been awarded Rookie of the Year in 1999. He had been promoted to Corporal the day before he was killed.

Corporal Cushman is survived by his fiancee and parents.

Bio

Age 27
Tour 4 years
Badge 1676

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire (Inadvertent)

training

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Most Recent Reflection

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I remember the day…an EMERGENCY radio dispatch for EMS…incident at the school involving a shooting..I remember faces…MY OFFICERS from my district…details from that day remain…details I will keep hidden in my memories…we worked side by side in Arlington Texas. I was so PROUD of your promotion! My brother, my police support, someone I could depend on to have our backs on scenes. My partner and I ran the call…

May you be my guardian over my shoulder as I continue, still a paramedic, to protect my fellow responders.

I saw a video today with your upbeat self and tears rolled down my face remembering not only the sadness of your loss, but the respect, courtesy, and recognition for our efforts on scene from the Arlington Police Department at your graveside.

RESTING in PEACE ALWAYS….

T J Dillow, PARAMEDIC
COWORKER

January 1, 2025