I want to welcome new as well as long-time readers of the Law Enforcement Executive Forum to this latest edition. This edition provides readers with a number of insightful articles related to police administration and leadership, criminal investigations, and terrorism. Consistent with the mission of the Forum, the articles presented are written by academics and practitioners alike, with the purpose of guiding professional service delivery based upon research and best practice examinations.

On a personal note, the publication of this edition coincides with a transition I am making in my professional career. For the past 17 years, I have had the privilege and honor to work with thousands of police administrators in my capacity as Executive Director of the Illinois POST (Police Officers Training and Standards Board). During this time, I am proud of the accomplishments achieved in founding the Illinois Law Enforcement Executive Institute and the Forum. Both projects, now institutionalized, are designed to promote police professionalism, with special attention given to the critical role of informed and intelligent leadership.

The Law Enforcement Executive Forum is dedicated to keeping law enforcement administrators prepared to meet emerging challenges. It strives to bridge the gap between theory and practice. As such, Forum articles are written by both academics and practitioners, with the overall focus on improved service delivery. Additionally, the Forum strives to provide articles that are timely and diverse in terms of addressing emerging issues and concerns confronting law enforcement administrators.

This issue of the Forum is representative of the diversity and complexity of problems faced by today’s law enforcement executives, beginning with a series of articles on organized crime, and ending with a series of articles on terrorism and other legal issues. It is our hope that through research and the sharing of ideas, we can assist law enforcement leaders with meeting the important challenges of today and tomorrow.

Thomas J. Jurkanin, PhD
Senior Editor
Director, Illinois Law Enforcement Training Stardards Board

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