Published by David Couper
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.
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David,
As always I appreciate you sharing about how we get better. The campaign is going well, however it is a challenge being a candidate.
I am fortunate to have your mentorship and friendship as I need allies like yourself more today than ever.
I believe we can be successful in the June primary and move on to November and win and reflect the values and principles that we know brings policing back to its true mission.
Happy New Year my friend,
John
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks, John. IF there is anything else I can do to help you be sure to let me know: 2018 Press On! “Making a good sheriff’s dept better and implementing continuous improvement through the years!”
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Also: I strongly suggest you read Barry Friedman’s new book, “Unwarranted: Policing Without Permission.” It’s great and its what you and I have been preaching for decades: “We (the public) have categorically failed to offer clear guidance to policing agencies as to what they are to do (or refrain from doing)… The main arena for the radical changes necessary to save many hundreds of civilian lives . . . is the local police department… When there is transparency, when public dialogue occurs, policy unequivocally does change…”
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