What Will You Stand Up For?

From Police Chief to Priest: A Lifetime Commitment to Peace and Justice

When I first pinned on a police badge in the spring of 1960—after serving as a U.S. Marine—I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath mattered then, and it matters even more to me today, 65 years later.

For 33 years, I served as a police officer, most of that time as Chief of Police here in Madison. After retiring from policing, I followed a different but connected path: I went to seminary, was ordained in the Episcopal Church, and for more than three decades have served two parishes here in south central Wisconsin. Through all these years, I have continued pursuing what I call my personal goal: supporting peace and justice in this world.

In 2011, I started this blog to reflect on policing—its successes, its failures, and its unrealized potential to truly serve as a model of justice for our communities. I have not hesitated to criticize where I thought we could and should do better. My belief has always been that policing in a democracy must be rooted in fairness, compassion, and respect for every person. That conviction is where my faith and my experience in policing come together.

Now, in my 87th year, I find myself again called to speak and act. Not as a former police chief, but as a citizen outraged by the cruelty and injustice being inflicted by the Trump administration. This is not normal. It is unacceptable. And it demands our active resistance.

That is why I am asking my friends and fellow citizens in the Madison area to join me in a silent march of conscience on August 2 in Madison. We will carry a cross—a symbol of courage and sacrifice—through our city to the steps of the State Capitol. We will walk in silence, but our message will be clear: We reject cruelty, we reject authoritarianism, and we stand for justice, dignity, peace and democracy.

As newspaper editor Paul Fanlund recently wrote in The Capital Times, this is a moment for moral clarity. Read his article here.

When I put on that badge 65 years ago, I pledged to uphold the Constitution. That promise has no expiration date. As long as I am able—and for whatever years God grants me—I will keep standing for peace and justice and, along with compassion and service, are the core values of policing free and democratic societies around the world.

And, if you are in town on Saturday, August 2nd, please stop by and join us!