Twenty-first-century law enforcement organizations face a new and significant challenge- homeland security. On September 11, 2001, local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States were thrust into the \"war on terrorism.\" The current law enforcement business-as-usual attitude and incremental programmatic responses do not ensure a long-term success. Any act of terrorism will initially be a local issue that requires immediate response by various local agencies, such as medical, fire, and police-the communities \"first responders.\" Thus local law enforcement organizations must recognize and embrace the critical and essential role they play in homeland security and the war on terrorism. In today's security environment, community policing is one of the most successful strategies employed by law enforcement organizations. Community policing focuses on crime and social disorder through the delivery of police services that include aspects of traditional law enforcement, preventive measures, problem solving, community engagement, and partnerships. At some point in the future, the line between homeland security and everyday policing will become indistinguishable. At that point, homeland security institutionalization at the local level will have been fully achieved. This thesis attempts to identify the need for homeland security institutionalization in local law enforcement organizations. The thesis argues that community-based policing principles combined with other progressive law enforcement practices such as Intelligence-led policing are crucial aids in that effort.