“Citizens have a right to expect their police will practice unconditional respect toward them — no matter what has happened…”
“In these kind of incidents, someone has to be the adult…”
“When police disrespect citizens, Sandra Bland incidents happen…”
In the wake of the Sandra Bland arrest and death in jail, and high-profile police shootings, I believe police departments today rely too much on coercion and force and less on their verbal skills to gain compliance from citizens. It’s often the issue of authority versus legitimacy.
Here is my recent 20 minute interview on Wisconsin Public Radio with Rob Ferrett.
I served over 20 years as the chief of police in Madison (WI), four years as chief of the Burnsville (MN) Police Department, and before that as a police officer in Edina (MN) and the City of Minneapolis. I hold graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and Edgewood College in Madison. I have written many articles over my years as a police leader calling for police improvement (for example, How To Rate Your Local Police, and with my wife, Sabine, Quality Policing: The Madison Experience). After retiring from the police department, I answered a call to ministry, attended seminary, and was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. After 25 years leading two Episcopal Churches in Portage and North Lake, Wisconsin, I now serve as Associate Pastor in a growing, dynamic, and Spirit-filled Lutheran congregation in nearby Black Earth. After losing Sabine, my wife of 40 years to cancer, I met Christine, a retired nurse and widow. We were blessed to find love again and married in 2021.
View all posts by David Couper
It might help if we required more than a GED and a few weeks of basic training. How about some college-level courses in philosophy, history, ethics, non-violent communication, psychology… ?
In my book an ABSOLUTE necessity! Cops need to be educated, well-trained, honest, controlled in their use of force, unconditionally respectful and willing to work closely with those whom they serve.
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 
Reblogged this on e-Roll Call Magazine.
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It might help if we required more than a GED and a few weeks of basic training. How about some college-level courses in philosophy, history, ethics, non-violent communication, psychology… ?
LikeLike
In my book an ABSOLUTE necessity! Cops need to be educated, well-trained, honest, controlled in their use of force, unconditionally respectful and willing to work closely with those whom they serve.
LikeLike