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.

What Happened in Boise?

What Can We Learn From the Dismissal of a Police Chief? One of my close colleagues, Mike Masterson, retired from … More

Why Uvalde Matters

Uvalde matters because this is the time when our nation’s police need to restore public trust; without it, police cannot … More

Why Did He Die?

Police officers in Colorado shot and killed a terrified young man whose car got stuck in a dirt road after … More

Preventing Suicide

National Officer Safety Initiatives PREVENTING SUICIDE AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS: AN ISSUE BRIEF [Editor’s Note: This month is Suicide Prevention … More