Darrel Stephens came into prominence in the 1980s as an American Police leader with vision. He attained chief executive positions in significant police organizations and was recognized as an agent of change. He was an early and strong proponent of police-research partnership, what we now call evidence-based policing. He was a deep thinker about the role and function of police and the challenging task of providing effective policing in multicultural societies. He came to recognize the wider "safety and security web, " the distinction between police and policing, and the importance of collaboration between police and private security. Along with serving as chief executive of four different police departments and executive director of two major national associations, he authored or co-authored over 30 reports, articles, and books and advised congress and several presidential administrations on matters related to policing and homeland security.