David C. Couper

police chief, priest, poet, and social activist
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FOLLOW my blog " (improving police.blog) " on leadership, training, organizational transformation, and current/critical issues.


​WHY FAITH?
​A "question and answer" interview with me regarding my faith. (See page on upper right.)
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New Release!

David Couper: Beyond the Badge - Reflections of an Ex-cop
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by Rob Zaleski

When he stepped down in 1993 after 21 contentious, but highly successful years as the police chief in ultra-liberal Madison, Wisconsin, David Couper was widely regarded as one of the most influential law enforcement officials in Wisconsin’s history. But little was known about his private life—or what motivated him to transform a paramilitary-type department into one that emphasized community relations; and to hire a large number of women and people of color, dramatically changing the complexion of the department. In 2020—nearly three decades after his shocking decision to resign and become an Episcopal priest—the former Marine met with award-winning columnist Rob Zaleski for a series of lively and provocative interviews that lift the veil on his private life and explain for the first time the reasons behind his many controversial decisions. He also talks about his unstable upbringing in the Twin Cities, the personal tragedies he’s endured, and his evolution into one of the most inspiring human rights activists Wisconsin has known.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - ROB ZALESKI

​Rob Zaleski is a freelance writer and award-winning columnist. He spent 26 years with The Capital Times in Madison and often wrote about David Couper when he was police chief. Prior to that, Rob was a reporter/sportswriter at United Press International’s Madison bureau. He also worked at the Milwaukee Journal, the Fort Myers News-Press in Florida, the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello and the Green Bay Daily News. He has authored the novel Searching for Sal and a nonfiction book, Ed Garvey: Unvarnished. His work has appeared in Madison Magazine and Isthmus.

You can purchase this new book HERE.

“Restoration Point" contains a number of poems I have written over the past half-century.

Also -- FOLLOW my current poetry blog at https://letmylifeteachnow.wordpress.com
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My newest books of poetry...

​CONTACT

​davidc6758
​@gmail.com
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​Phone: (608) 444-7207

The 3rd edition of "Arrested Development" is updated and includes a new chapter: "George Floyd: Where to From Here?"
Who Am I?

Family: Married to Christine Brown Couper (retired R.N.). Formerly married to Sabine Lobitz (1953-2020) who died of cancer after a 13 year struggle.  Hobbies/Interests: Physical activity. Travel. Martial Arts. Poetry. Social Commentary.

Career Experience:​
  • Priest in Charge, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, North Lake, WI., January, 2005 to present.
  • Lecturer in Criminal Justice, University of Wisconsin at Platteville, 2016-2018.
  • Priest in Charge, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Portage, WI, December, 1995 to 2005.
  • Resident Chaplain; Meriter Hospital, Madison, WI, September, 1994 to August. 1995.
  • Chief of Police; City of Madison, WI, 1972-1993.
  • Director of Public Safety (Police and Fire Chief); City of Burnsville, MN, 1969-1972.
  • Detective, Police Trainer, and Police Officer, City of Minneapolis, MN, 1962-69.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant; University of Minnesota, Department of Sociology, 1968-1971.
  • Police Officer, City of Edina, MN, 1960-62.
  • Active Duty: U.S. Marine Corps, 1956-60; Reserve Duty, 1962-68
Education:
  • Edgewood College, Madison, M. A., Religious Studies, 2005.
  • Seminary, Nashotah House, Certificate in Anglican Studies, 1994.
  • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, M.A., Sociology (Criminology and Deviant Behavior), 1970.
  • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, B.A., Russian Language, 1968.​
Other Articles and Publications:
  • "Quality Leadership: The First Step Towards Quality Policing," with Sabine Lobitz in The Police Chief magazine, April, 1987.
  • "Police Department Learns Ten Hard Lessons, "Quality Progress Magazine, Milwaukee, October, 1990.
  • Quality Policing: The Madison Experience, with Sabine Lobitz, Police Executive Research Forum, Washington, DC, 1991.
  • "Effective Community Oriented Policing: Vision, Leadership and the Problem Solving Method," with Sabine Lobitz in The Police Chief Magazine, May, 1991.
  • "Forgiveness in the Community: Views from an Episcopal Priest and Former Chief of Police," in Exploring Forgiveness, Robert Enright and Joanna North, editors, University of Wisconsin Press, 1998.
  • Books: How to Rate Your Local Police (1983, 2015), The Quality Leadership Workbook (2017), Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism and Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation's Police (2012, 2017, 2021), Restoration Point: A Book of Poetry (2011), and Telling It Like It Is: Couper on Cops (2017).
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Leadership
Don’t understand what it is?
Think about the “Golden Rule” (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you as a very good beginning!).
Then think about “Servant Leadership” (It begins with a natural feeling of wanting to serve… to serve others, not self.)
Still wondering?
Then consider this:
The number one job of leaders is to care for, and grow, the men and women they are privileged to lead! That's why leaders eat last! (Simon Sinek video.)
​Still don’t get it?
Study more and suspend using your power over others!