In 1987, my wife and I were both serving as police leaders. I was chief in Madison and she was … More
Author: David Couper
The Ombudsman: A Way Forward For Your City?
There seems to be a growing amount of urban conflict today between police and community members. It can predictably happen … More
Can and Should Police Investigate Themselves?
Of course, the question of self-regulation is not only relevant to the police but applies to every institution of power … More
Seven Seeds for Policing
I first described “Seven Seeds for Policing” at the annual meeting of the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, DC … More
How to Rate Police: Some Questions
My first book, How to Rate Your Local Police, was published by the Police Executive Research Forum in 1983. It was a … More
The Joy of Policing
You probably did a double-take on the title of this blog – the Joy of Policing! But I am serious. … More
Working Upstream: A Story
UPSTREAM-DOWNSTREAM Once upon a time there was a fishing village along a mighty river. The villagers there were a fine, … More
Stepping Back: Reflecting On a Police Shooting
MANY YEARS AGO, I was a young police officer, just out of the academy. My partner and I, also a … More
Can Cops Be Honest?
The Power of Police Subculture An Excerpt From “Arrested Development” “Years ago as a young police officer, I remember finding … More
A Problem in Madison
The department that I headed for over 20 years is coming under attack regarding the shooting of an unarmed intoxicated … More
