Let’s Face It!

David CouperJuly 8, 2019Uncategorized

Some good, basic tips here. Remember: it’s all about communication! https://www.amazon.com/Be-Fantastic-Police-Officer-communities/dp/1490537821

If we are to preserve this fragile thing called American democracy we are going to have to become a little more active in our communities.

If you are not having an on-going dialogue with your police leaders about use of force, handling kids and immigrants, training methods, creating a more diverse police agency, and building everyone’s trust of police you are NOT strengthening our nation.

And if you, as a police officer, are not engaging with your community on the above issues, you are letting them down.

Most of the pressing issues facing American police are contained within the 1200+ blogs on this site.

What is not happening is an on-going dialogue about what I have said on these posts. If you agree or don’t agree with me, I’d like to hear from you.

I have written earlier about prophets — unloved in their home towns — it certainly applies to those of us who love and are concerned about police and how their jobs and community relationships might be improved.

Let’s not wait for another questionable shooting or the comments on social media from a few rogue cops become the dominant police-community relations narrative.

Policing is a noble calling. Let’s keep it that way!

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. 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 Mazomanie. View all posts by David Couper

3 Comments

Alan Beck says:

July 8, 2019 at 2:29 pm

Maybe that dialogue should also include a reminder that officers words, posted on social media sites, can erase years of goodwill with the community. Thanks for the reminder of the importance of communications!

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1. improvingpolice says:
  
  July 8, 2019 at 5:37 pm
  
  Absolutely! “Loose lips sink ships” was a WW II cautionary statement…. perhaps something similar needs to catch the attention of police officers who act so immaturely and tarnish everyone’s badge.
  
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Gunther says:

July 8, 2019 at 10:16 pm

“Maybe that dialogue should also include a reminder that officers words, posted on social media sites, can erase years of goodwill with the community. {

Particularly when those words are sexist and/or bigotry words. Just heard that the Border Patrol higher-ups knew all about those officers posting their hateful comments since last year; however, they didn’t do a thing about it. Just proves that the blue wall of silence still exists.

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