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.

An Open Letter to Members of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) will be hosting a meeting next week (September 16-17) in Chicago titled, “Defining Moments … More

You Deserve Excellence in Policing!

Jokingly, an old colleague of mine, Dave Gorski, who was chief of police in nearby Appleton, Wisc., used to say,”We … More

What Should Police Do and Be?

Hear my interview on policing yesterday with Lynn Cullen. Lynn is an American liberal radio talk show host in Pittsburgh, … More

Sowing Seeds

“Improving Police” is the work of David Couper, former chief of police in Madison, Wisconsin for over 20 years. It has always been his dream to see police become major players in assuring fairness and justice in our society.