Oregon Area Progressives are pleased to welcome former Madison Police Chief and Episcopal pastor DAVID COUPER as our featured guest at the February Community Open Mic.

DAVID COUPER is a prolific writer, blogger, poet, pundit, and social activist. He served at Madison Police Chief from 1972 to 1993 and became an Episcopal priest following his retirement, a job he held for 30 years. David will share his perspective on keeping faith in our fundamental truths, supporting and protecting one another, and standing in non-violent resistance to the authoritarian forces invading our communities.

ABOUT DAVID COUPER: David Couper was Madison Chief of Police from 1972 to 1993, a time of tremendous change in Madison and in policing. Chief Couper eliminated barriers to hiring of women and minorities in the police department and championed reforms in conflict management and peaceful public protest. In 1993, the year he retired, Chief Couper was chosen by other police chiefs to receive the National Police Leadership Award. Following his retirement as Madison Police Chief, David Couper attended Nashotah House Theological Seminary and became an Episcopal priest.

David continues to watch, analyze and comment on police practices in America at improvingpolice.blog. He is the author of numerous books and poems. You can follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/david.couper.1232.