MCS was established 25 years ago to provide an immediate, professional responses in serious cases. MCS provides homicide investigative services to counties on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the Mississippi River. It serves an area of about 4,500 square miles and 2.5 million people. The MCS currently has more than 400 detectives and investigators from the police agencies in the metropolitan area. The MCS has a board of directors consisting of police chiefs, sheriffs, and business leaders who ensure the delivery of quality criminal investigations. The costs of the organization are paid by the participating agencies. Operating expenses such as the mobile command post and computers are funded through corporate and other private donations. The MCS experience suggests several guidelines for other jurisdictions, including careful selection and training; rapid responses to needs; and attention to all crucial areas of investigative concentration. The MCS continues to examine potential improvements and is currently considering forming skill teams to handle particular aspects of an investigation