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.

Feeling Blue

Blue during dark times of trouble i become a poet only there do i  reach the depth of feelings love … More

Dress Matters

A pressing question facing both police and the communities they serve is how did police move so quickly from this … More

Minneapolis: A Case Study

“Defund/Eliminate the Police!” This is what happens when we fail to make needed changes in how we police our towns … More

An Error in Police Training

“Looking into the future, the number of fatal shootings of citizens by police (which have remained steady since Ferguson) must … More

How Others See Us!

The following video illustrates many of the problems facing police improvement in America — topics I have written and spoken … More

Shame! Shame!

This was mayhem and it is difficult not to believe it was agitated and coordinated before January 6, 2021 — … More