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.

A Warning

Regardless of who wins tomorrow’s election, I am afraid we in America will be tested in ways we have never … More

Cease Fire! 1,000 Annual Deaths by Police Are Far Too Many!

[Note: The following news column was submitted to three leading American news sources. USA Today stepped up and published what … More

Before You Vote, Think About Police

Today’s issue of the New York Times recommends: “Five Books to Read About Policing Before You Vote.” I added a sixth. _______________________________________ … More

I Am Worried About November and the Future of Policing in America

[Note: I recently ran across a number of columns that I wrote for USA Today from 2016-2017 during the Trump … More

Standby: What Needs To Be Done!

Along with my friend and colleague, Noble Wray, we have co-authored what we believe to be a powerful op-ed on … More

Bad Training — Still Available

Missouri and Kansas police paid for aggressive, discredited officer training tactics Midwest Newsroom and KCUR began investigating, police departments in … More