Today's criminal organizations have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, utilizing legitimate business tactics to create highly efficient multi-jurisdictional networks and set new business practices in adaptive strategy.

The criminal organizations of today rarely follow a top-heavy hierarchy and have turned to loosely affiliated cooperative networks.

The new model of criminal organizations is adept at:

1. Scanning the environment and quickly deploying technology to capitalize on what they find.

2. Networking to develop sources with the specialized skills they need. They no longer rely on "in-house" talent.

3. Money isn't everything. Criminal organizations have learned to lure highly educated people who are attracted to risk, intellectual stimulation, and the thrill of breaking the law.

4. Rather than rely on the big "score," criminal organizations now tend to stretch out their criminal activity in smaller, less noticeable transactions.

5. Criminal organizations function multi-jurisdictionally, which creates legal hurdles for law enforcement, which are often not adept at cross-border collaboration, such as information sharing.

As criminal organizations develop their business model, it is critical that law enforcement adapt to this changing environment and advance their assessment and enforcement methods to tackle organized crime as it exists today.

Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) is one facet of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams, a unique model that brings together, under one umbrella, Alberta’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to strategically tackle serious and organized crime. CISA is responsible for the collection, evaluation and dissemination of information and intelligence gathered from various law enforcement and government agencies. CISA is dedicated to the development of these information sharing partnerships and intelligence products that meet the needs of front-line officers, enforcement teams, senior police management and government interests, with the goal of providing an intelligence-led response to policing organized crime in Alberta at the provincial level and also in support of Criminal Intelligence Services Canada at the national level.

Organized and serious crime has a damaging effect on the citizens of Alberta and, ultimately, all Canadians. The goal of CISA is to do our part in making Alberta and Canada a safe place for all our citizens.

I encourage all Albertans to do your part in protecting our province from the harms created by organized and serious crime. Together we can create an environment that is unwelcome to those who prey on our communities and our citizens through illicit activities.


Sergeant David Maze
Director
Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta

Dave Maze was appointed director of CISA in November 2009. Dave is a Sergeant from the Lethbridge Regional Police Service, having completed 25 years. Dave was in charge of the Lethbridge Integrated Intelligence Unit for seven years and has worked in the Major Crimes Section, Special Operations Undercover Drug Unit, Forensic Identification Unit, and the Recruiting and Training Unit throughout his career.