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.

Local Police Must Resist Federal Overreach on Immigration

Across the country today, local police find themselves at a dangerous crossroads. On one side stands their sworn duty—to uphold … More

Growing Better Together

There a Right and Wrong Way of Improving Police in America Recently, a former police chief and current criminal justice … More

Beware: They May Be Coming for You

As a former police chief, I have always believed that the rule of law is the bedrock of our democracy. … More

What We Can Learn About Resistance

Memorial to the White Rose student resistance group at the University of Munich (1943–1945). Ordinary young people risked their lives … More

“Truth, Justice and the American Way!”

As a boy during World War II, I was raised to believe America was a shining light in a dark … More

All This is Happening on Our Watch!

When Enforcers Break the Law I spent more than three decades wearing a badge and swearing an oath to protect … More

21st Century Policing

Modern, constitutional policing in America is at a crossroads. Under the current Trump administration, we are witnessing the dangerous nationalization … More