The environment in which law enforcement leaders find themselves is rapidly changing, and the labor pool is significant among those changes. To successfully recruit and retain staff, law enforcement management will require more leadership attention, as well as having to meet the needs of a community that is growing, becoming more diverse, aging, and has higher expectations. To better address these issues, certain actions were taken to determine the best practices for law enforcement leaders. In surveying more than 850 academy recruits from 15 academies, the following recommendations are presented as best practices for recruitment and retention: recruitment--(1) develop a recruitment plan; (2) conduct research; (3) personalize the recruitment process; (4) select the right people as recruiter and train them; (4) build strong partnerships; (5) develop an employee referral program; (6) improve the selection process; (7) develop an advertising plan; (8) develop an Internet presence; and (9) employ effective recruitment strategies; and retention--(1) develop effective supervisors/managers; (2) develop an employee-friendly culture and policies; (3) develop a retention plan; (4) engage employees; (5) improve communication; (6) develop staff; (7) improve operations; and (8) address cost of housing issue. Each of these best practices provides relevant and practical information. In any profession, attracting and retaining a high caliber of staff is critical and the responsibility of executives. This report presents the results of a 2005 survey approved by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to provide an update on recruitment and retention best practices in California. Tables, references and appendixes 1-8