The Courage to Stand Up

David CouperDecember 5, 2019November 30, 2019Uncategorized

I sense that today many people in our communities are waiting for their police leaders to stand up and declare their commitment to the sanctity of life and and to articulate the specific actions they are willing to take in improving training, policy, and oversight to make this commitment a reality.

Since the events in Ferguson, Missouri in 2015, I have searched for police leaders who were willing to publicly make this commitment. It takes courage.

In my experience, this is the only way that trust can be built and maintained. For trust in police is necessary in order for citizens to support and cooperate with their police.

All of this, control in use of force, lawful conduct, showing respect, and having the ability to deeply listen to others is necessary to have an effective police function in a free, diverse and democratic society.

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