Bucks officer faked his shooting, DA says

Police block the road near the Lenape Valley Swim Club where Chalfont police officer Jon Cousin, 31, said he was shot on Monday, Aug. 28, 2012. He was treated and released from the hospital the same day. (Peter Mucha/Staff)
Police block the road near the Lenape Valley Swim Club where Chalfont police officer Jon Cousin, 31, said he was shot on Monday, Aug. 28, 2012. He was treated and released from the hospital the same day. (Peter Mucha/Staff)
By Robert Moran, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: August 30, 2012

The Bucks County police officer who claimed he was saved by a bulletproof vest after being shot during an exchange of gunfire Monday faked the incident, District Attorney David Heckler said Tuesday night.

Chalfont Officer Jon Cousin, 31, reported that he had been shot in the parking lot of the Lenape Valley Swim Club about 3:15 a.m.

"It was absolutely a lie," Heckler said.

Cousin was held Tuesday on charges of false alarm to agencies of public safety, false report to law enforcement, official oppression, recklessly endangering other people, and possession of an instrument of crime.

Heckler said a request would be made that as a condition of bail, Cousin be held until he receives a complete psychiatric evaluation.

On Monday, Cousin said he was investigating an older-model Oldsmobile Cutlass when one of its three occupants fired two shots at him. Cousin said he returned fire three times.

Immediately after Cousin reported the shooting, police set up roadblocks in an effort to find the car.

However, the evidence did not add up, Heckler said.

First, "he literally was not injured," Heckler said.

The vest contained a bullet from a .380-caliber firearm that should have left a welt or bruising at least, he said.

Cousin's three spent .45-caliber casings were found at the scene, but there was none from a .380 weapon.

Nearby residents were interviewed. One woman who was up reading said she heard "three shots, no more, no less."

Investigators learned that Cousin owned a .380 Ruger. He voluntarily gave it to investigators for testing.

John Finer, a firearms expert from Montgomery County, examined the bullet from the vest and Cousin's gun and determined the bullet "was absolutely fired from his pistol" before the incident, Heckler said.

A law enforcement alert seeking three people in an Oldsmobile was canceled.

 

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