A brief overview is provided of the ICS technology, its effectiveness in the management of critical incidents of varying size and complexity within the fire system, and its multiagency applications. The origins of the ICS and experiences of ICS users in the bellwether States of California, Colorado, and Florida are described, and a strategy for implementing the ICS in law enforcement is discussed. It is hypothesized that law enforcement and allied public service agencies will be called upon increasingly to plan for and manage major incidents that pose extreme threat to life and property. Examples of such potential incidents include an earthquake of catastrophic proportions, threatened volcanic activity, possible terrorist activity in the United States, and heavy utilization of recreational areas with attendant search and rescue implications. See NCJ 111029 for related field operations guide. Tables, footnotes, and 32 references.