Health-care professionals predict that a pandemic influenza outbreak is highly likely, if not inevitable, based on current conditions and historical data. Should the current avian influenza virus (H5N1) or a mutation thereof spread efficiently between humans, a worldwide pandemic could take place within as little as three weeks. The inevitable shortages of employees and resources make it essential that police departments establish plans and take measures in advance to ensure that crucial law enforcement services are not unreasonably disrupted and that employees are provided with the means to prevent or mitigate the spread of infection.