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.

The Art of Bending Granite

Bending Granite: 30+ True Stories of Leading Change Surely the most dramatic finding in this project is that it is … More

Why Can’t My Police Department Improve?

The title of this blog is a question I hear quite often. In trying answer that question, I try to … More

Growth of Private Police in America

Years ago, I remember reading about the growth of private security forces throughout the country. In short, our commercial buildings, … More

Still At It!

Author and Journalist Rob Zaleski and I recently appeared at a Madison event talking about Rob’s biography on ‘yours truly!” … More

Police Suicide and Its Prevention

There’s been decades of discussion about and improving police mental health, peer support, and addiction. The existing police sub-culture often … More