THE LAW CREATING THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CENTRAL POLICE SERVICES WAS SIGNED INTO EFFECT IN AUGUST 1972. THE AGENCY, WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION AND RECORDS, COMMUNICATIONS, TRAINING, AND LABORATORY FUNCTIONS, RECEIVES FINANCIAL SUPPORT BOTH FROM THE COUNTY'S TAX BASE AND FROM AVAILABLE FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. OVERVIEWS, OF THE HISTORY OF CENTRALIZED POLICE SUPPORT SERVICES IN GENERAL AND OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE ERIE COUNTY AGENCY EVOLVED AND FUNCTIONS ARE PRESENTED. THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENCY ARE DOCUMENTED, AND THE HISTORY AND FUNCTIONS OF EACH DIVISION -- INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS, TRAINING, FORENSIC LABORATORY, AND ADMINISTRATION -- ARE DESCRIBED AND ASSESSED. DETAILS OF THE AGENCY'S EMPIRE (ERIE MUNICIPAL POLICE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL ENHANCEMENT) SYSTEM -- A COMPUTERIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK -- ARE PROVIDED. THE AGENCY'S CIVILIAN-STAFFED EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTER IS DESCRIBED, AS ARE THE COUNTY'S RADIO NETWORK, TRAINING CURRICULUM, AND FORENSIC LABORATORY SYSTEM. PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE NOTED. AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED.