Frank MulliganThe Standard-Times
NEW BEDFORD — The fatal shooting of former New Bedford Deputy Fire Chief Paul Coderre Jr. by police during a December standoff at the Bayside Lounge in Fairhaven was justified.
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office released that finding in a 19-page investigation report Thursday, which was based on eyewitness accounts, including from his wife, as well as police and two civilian videos.
The police video was collected from three police body-cameras and one dash-mounted cruiser camera.
According to the report, the events unfolded on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at about 4:50 p.m. when Fairhaven police were called to the lounge on reports of an intoxicated man in the parking lot.
Police were told by a 911 caller that several people were trying to prevent the man from driving.
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Three Fairhaven police officers responded in separate cruisers.
As the first officer approached the group in the parking lot, Coderre took an aggressive stance and moved his hand toward his hip, according to the report.
The officer drew his firearm and retreated to his cruiser, believing that Coderre was reaching for a weapon.
He was joined by the other two officers. They called for mutual aid from the Acushnet and Mattapoisett police departments when Coderre refused to surrender his weapon.
Numerous officers responded and formed a perimeter around Coderre. Officers repeatedly tried to de-escalate the situation, according to the report. Several of Coderre's friends were allowed to speak to him.
All verbal attempts to convince him to surrender his weapon failed, the report states.
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Report: Coderre appeared drunk and threatened suicide
It added Coderre appeared intoxicated and repeatedly threatened to shoot himself.
He told officers he wouldn't fire at them. He would either shoot himself or make officers shoot him, according to the report. The standoff lasted approximately 30 minutes.
Police tried to use non-lethal methods to apprehend Coderre. Coderre was hit twice with a Taser, but this was ineffective. He pulled the second Taser prong out with his hands.
Police then tried a "BolaWrap" device, which is used to restrain a person by tether, but it failed to wrap around him.
Police then tried firing a bean bag round at him from a shotgun. It struck him but failed to incapacitate him. The officer tried to fire twice more but both bags misfired in the shotgun.
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Coderre pulled semiautomatic pistol and began firing
Coderre then pulled a 9mm semiautomatic pistol from a holster on his right hip and began firing at officers who had been prepared to tackle him when the non-lethal devices were used. An Acushnet police officer was shot in the leg, which turned out to be a minor injury.
Four police officers fired, and Coderre was hit five times. He fell to the ground, where officers provided medical attention. He was declared dead at St. Luke's Hospital at 6:10 p.m.
The time from the first Taser deployment to Coderre falling to the ground was approximately 12 seconds, according to the report.
Coderre was carrying more live rounds
Eight spent shell casings from Coderre's gun were recovered at the scene, along with 23 from the officers' guns.
A magazine found on Coderre's body contained seven more live rounds. There were two live rounds left in his pistol.
The 55-year-old Dartmouth resident had a license to carry firearms, had been part owner of a gun shop, was a former firearms instructor, and had owned 39 firearms, according to the report.
Accused of faking an injury while New Bedford firefighter
The report notes Coderre was accused of faking an injury to avoid work and claim disability while with the New Bedford Fire Department several years earlier.
He had been involved in litigation with the city for two years, and had recently won a ruling with the Civil Service Commission that found his termination and pension denial to be unlawful.
However, the report noted that the city had appealed to Bristol County Superior Court on the day of the incident.
Coderre had been upbeat about case until city filed appeal
Coderre was an active member of the Bristol County Fire Chiefs Association, according to the report. Some members of the group would meet Fridays at the lounge for lunch and drinks, including on the day of the shooting.
One member said he'd had breakfast that morning with Coderre, who was upbeat about his Civil Service case. He later received a call from his attorney at lunch about the city appeal, and he got "a little pissed off."
Another member, described as a good friend of Coderre, said Coderre was upset about the city's recent decision regarding his termination. He had several drinks and ordered shots for the group twice, once in honor of a former chief who had committed suicide.
Enraged, drunken Coderre refused to be driven home
The friend called Coderre's wife, saying Coderre would need a ride home. When Coderre's wife arrived, she tried to get him to drive home with her, according to the report, and took his key fob.
Coderre punched out the driver's-side window of his pickup truck to get at spare keys inside, according to the second witness, injuring his hand and arm.
He was upset that his wife had been called and grabbed the second witness by the throat, according to the report. They tried to calm him but he was enraged, the second witness said.
Coderre's wife asked if he had a gun. He replied "Yes," and fired a shot into the air. The witness said he made a statement to the effect that "the three of us are not going to go home today."
Wife: Not normally an 'angry drunk,' Coderre had psychotic break
Coderre was verbally aggressive with his wife when arguing over the key fob. She said that was highly unusual for him, as was grabbing the other man by the throat. She said he was not normally an angry drunk, and believed he had had a psychotic break.
Another friend came out of the lounge to help. A witnesses said Coderre pointed the gun at his wife before he fired it into the air. His wife hid behind her car, and heard Coderre yell, "I'm gonna die today."
People called from the lounge for her to come inside, which she did. While inside, she heard the multiple gunshots fired and everyone in the bar got on the ground.
Had recently changed medication; had high blood alcohol content
Coderre's wife said the Civil Service litigation and publicity had been stressful and upsetting to Coderre. He had also been told that he couldn't have any more surgeries for the back injury that led to his disability leave. He would have to receive pain management therapy.
She said he was prescribed medication for his pain and mood. The medication had recently been changed, and he seemed more agitated after the switch, she said.
Along with the interactions described in the report, video also recorded Coderre saying he was "dying tonight," as well as the situation was going to end "one of two ways: you guys are going to shoot me or I'm going to shoot me," "this is how this is going to end," and "don't lose any sleep over this, this is my decision."
According to the autopsy, Coderre's blood alcohol content was 0.202%, more than twice the legal limit to drive.
The report concluded: "The fatal shooting of Paul Coderre Jr. was justified as the result of Mr. Coderre's actions on Dec. 29, 2023. Based on a review of all the facts and circ*mstances related to this incident, there is no basis to conclude that the responding police officers committed a crime."
