Policing in 2026

David Couper

The line between “guardian” and “occupier” has never been thinner. 

As we approach the 2026 mid-term elections, policing is becoming the centerpiece of a renewed political identity war. The Future Policing Institute’s newest report, Policing in 2026, makes predictions about the “legitimacy gap” and tough choices ahead:

 

  • Deepfake Warfare: Officers must now act on synthetic tips and viral narratives that can redefine an agency overnight.
  • Federal vs. Local: Navigating the tension between federal immigration mandates and the need for local community trust.
  • Oversight is Key: Independent commissions will become the primary mechanism for rebuilding public confidence.

 

The future rewards those willing to choose the Constitution over the command of the moment.

 

Read the predictions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kN4wRcrqGl9Y7leyAd1Ukqn8461YZld5/view?usp=sharing

#ConstitutionalPolicing #CommunityTrust #Ethics #GuardiansOfTheRepublic

 

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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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