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.

Learning About Policing Others: At Home and Abroad

How is policing a city in America like our military action in Afghanistan? You may not see the similarities, but … More

Leadership: What I’ve Learned

I first became a leader when I was twenty years of age. I was promoted to corporal, then sergeant, a … More

Facing What Needs To Be Faced

The “Red Door Project” in Portland, OR needs to be presented in your home town. Why? Because it talks about … More

Good Policing in a Racist World

After George Floyd’s life was extinguished and watched by millions of people throughout the world, I needed to add another … More

Police and Mandatory Covid Vaccination

Kevin Forestieri of the Mountain View Voice reported on differences in vaccination rates among emergency services providers in the Palo … More

Never Forget What Happened on January 6, 2021!

I say this because while I had some idea from network news what happened on that fateful date. A day … More

Tangled Up In Blue!

A friend of mine recently sent me a copy of Rosa Brooks’ new book, “Tangled Up in Blue.” Such a … More

Put Your Values into Practice

One thing is deeply needed in policing today — putting the important core values you hold into your practice of … More

Back in the Saddle Again!

Last year with my late wife’s 13-year struggle and death from an incurable blood cancer (Multiple Myeloma), the pandemic, and … More

I know, I know, I Just Can’t Shut Up!

Police Don’t Need to Be Abolished, They Need to Be Reimagined! The Spirit calls me out again to comment on … More