The organization is divided into four zones: Eastern, Central, Northwestern, and Southwestern.
According to its website, LEIU's purpose is to "gather, record, and exchange confidential information not available through regular police channels, concerning organized crime and terrorism."
Since the LEIU is not a government agency, it is not subject to the provisions of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act or its equivalents in other countries.
In June 2003, the annual meeting of the LEIU in Seattle, Washington was protested by approximately 400 people, resulting in 12 arrests, and pepper spraying of demonstrators.
"Among the activists' concerns" were "post-9/11 laws such as the USA Patriot Act, which gives the government expanded powers to use wiretaps, electronic surveillance and other methods of information gathering.