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.

Dreaming in Blue

I hope you do not think that I am saying or suggesting that our nation’s police have not improved? They … More

A Time to Boldly Lead

During last month’s annual meeting of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Charles Ramsey gave the opening address … More

Little Rays of Hope

Last week, I wrote about Chief Chris Burbank who heads up the Salt Lake City Police Department. I described him … More

A Cop After My Own Heart

I have never met the guy but it seems like we came out of the same school of policing. Here’s … More

A Unique Professional Opportunity

I starting thinking about how a posting for a Madison chief of police should read in order to … More

Ten Hard Lessons Learned

[Sometimes it helps to look back and try and find out why something that seemed so important, so necessary, years … More

Improving the Emotional Health of Police

Years have passed, but I remember that night. My partner and I had spotted a stolen car one dark night on … More

Will Police Take This First and Necessary Step?

Sabine Lobitz and I wrote the following article for our nation’s police leaders in the late 1980s to draw attention to … More

Can Madison Police Go From Good to Great?

Last night, the Madison Board of Police and Fire Commissioners began their process of selecting a new chief of police … More

On Hiring a Chief of Police

One of the most important of public decisions any elected or appointed official will ever make will be this one. … More