Years have passed, but I remember that night. My partner and I had spotted a stolen car one dark night on … More
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.
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
Seven Seeds For Policing
Note: The following article comes from a talk I gave in Washington, D.C. in the spring of 1993 when I … More
An Invitation to Abu Dhabi
Last month I was invited to come to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirites to talk about my book, … More
Whatever Happened to “Occupy”?
The following piece appeared in this week’s edition of “Christian Century.” It poses some interesting questions. I was one of … More
Policing and the ISO
It’s funny the things you can find on the Internet while looking for something else. In my case, it was … More
The Best Police Departments: Teaching Organizations?
Yes. This is my dream. For police to be both learning and teaching organizations. And not just to other police … More
Compassionate Policing
A Police Officer Who Did the Right Thing By Laura Pogliano [The following letter is by the mother of son … More
