This United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) manual, Strategic Communication Practices: A Toolkit for Police Executives, was developed with invaluable input from chiefs, sheriffs, police executives, and communications personnel from departments across the United States and Canada. It is intended to assist law enforcement executives and communications directors in navigating the shark-infested communication waters. It is designed to help police executives and communications personnel understand how the news media have changed over the past 20 years. It provides guidance on how to develop a strategic communications plan, focuses on the role of the chief and sheriff, discusses the various tools that are available, and explores the unique communication needs that crop up during times of crisis. Finally, the Toolkit outlines the process for developing a strategic communication plan to guide this critically important work.