Author: 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.

My Philosophy of Policing

This is an eight-point summary of my philosophy of policing a free society; What I TEACH. What I PREACH. … More

President Obama Receives More Police Input

Police Officers Talk to President Obama About Trust: Officers’ input comes week before a report recommending ways to build trust … More

We Move Forward Each Day

Pittsburgh chief, Cam McLay stands up, speaks out, and commits to change at an important community meeting. Several hundred people … More

Unconscious Denial

Ready for some challenging ideas? Today’s police need to view this film, think about it, and then engage in a … More

More on the 21st Century Policing Task Force

Here’s some more movement on some DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS from the Task Force — and an opportunity for you to stand … More

Smart Cops Needed

Those of you who have read my book “Arrested Development” know that I try to make a strong argument about … More

A Ray of Hope

Yesterday, President Obama met with a number of rank and file officers in his office. Yes, community-oriented policing got … More

CRISIS IN POLICING? You Bet!

CRISIS: “a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, especially for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.” Is that not where American policing is now? We need to think about this and if we believe … More