Stepping Back From Improving Police

David Couper

Lest We Forget.

Today the Trump Administration pulled back from years of local police oversight that had been ordered by our federal judiciary across our country.

This decision abandons bi-partisan efforts for nearly two decades to force police reforms in more than a half dozen cities with a history and pattern of civil rights violations.

I’ve worked in policing for most of my long life. This is not a step back — it’s full retreat; a surrender.

Remember, police in these cities did not just make a mistake or two — no, they have had a pattern of civil rights abuses through the years.

This is a sad day for police improvement and professionalism in our nation.

The quality of a democracy depends on how well citizens respect and follow its laws.

Our Founders knew this 250 years ago! We are a nation of laws and basic human rights — not desires or whims of those among us with wealth and power.

That’s what made us great.

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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.

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