What Must Be Said. And Said Again!

David Couper

Over the years, poetry was a large part of my inner life. Recent years have found me sharing my deepest thoughts and feelings through this literary form.

Within these 1500+ posts (and in my book, “Arrested Development”) I have attempted to share what I have learned along the way.

My quarter-century as a chief of police taught me much. Primarily, in our free society, the important role of the community in policing and restraint in using force by to accomplish the police mission — to foster a community-wide feeling of peace, security, and trust in police.

Those of you who have followed this blog since 2011 know that I have, from time to time, tried to back away from writing and being an observer (and often critic) of American policing.

But I simply could not. I care that much about the men and women who followed my era.

But that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? A willingness to serve? And when service yields to self, trouble always happens, and people get hurt.

You can contact me at davidc6758@gmail.com

Let us press on together!

My biography can be purchased HERE.
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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 almost 30 years serving in and leading two Episcopal Churches in the Diocese of Milwaukee, I am "sort-of" in the process of retirement. Life is good.

7 Comments

  2. Sorry to see you go—I’ve always read these missives.t Through a confluence of circumstances, I may be visiting Madison in the next 4-5 months. Hope I can get to see you and meet Christine,

    Cheers, Lynn

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  3. Chief, over the many years I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and commentaries – and your books as well. You have had some great influence on my decision-making and thoughts for a hopeful bright future in a profession I know we both love and care about. Best wishes on your retirement, but I hope we’ve not heard the last from you.

    Ian S. Lovestock

    Retired Police Chief

    Presently Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice

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  4. Thanks, Chief, for all that you’ve done for the field of policing. Your wisdom has not been lost along the way, rather it has inspired many would-be police officers (otherwise known as students. I’ll truly miss this blog and your wisdom.

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  5. Dear David,               Although except one or two emails we were not in touch. I have been reading your posts and the one’s relevant for policing in Pakistan, I have shared with my serving colleagues. I enjoyed reading these posts and found them mostly applicable for effective and humane policing. God bless you. My best wishes and prayers.With regards.Yours Sincerely, Afzal ShigriRetired Police Chief              

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    1. Afzal, thank you so much for your reply. Yes, policing is all too much the same the world around… pockets of excellence need to be developed, shared, and be instructive to other men and women in policing. Blessings to you!

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