The development of the Critical Life Events Scale for Law Enforcement was accomplished through the procedures used by Holmes and Rahe, which involved the compilation of a list of critical events, the assignment of stress values to these events by a study group, and the ranking of these events as a result of their mean values. The final survey instrument used in the development of the scale included both a request for demographic information and the list of 144 critical professional life events developed in an initial survey. Respondents were instructed to rate each event from 1 to 100 in terms of professional stress readjustment in comparison with a designated constant event ('changing work shifts') with an assigned value of 50. In its final form, the values of the scale run from a high of 88 for the most stressful event, violent death of a partner in the line of duty, to a low of 13 for the least stressful, completion of a routine report. The events reflecting over 60 points on the scale and consequently requiring the greatest amount of readjustment were concerned with violence or threatened violence, personnel matters, or ethical concerns. Included in these events were also 'police-related civil suit' and 'criminal indictment of a fellow officer.' In addition to allowing for the analysis, prediction, and control of stress, the scale can also guide the development of more comprehensive programs of stress recognition and management; be used to better educate police families, public officials, and the general public; and provide a foundation for future research. The scale and 24 references are provided.