Characteristics of State Law Enforcement Liaison Programs: Survey Results

Decina, Lawrence E.; Lococo, Kathy H. · 2022 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This study, conducted under the National Cooperative Research and Evaluation Program (NCREP) and sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aims to characterize State Law Enforcement Liaison (LEL) programs across the United States. The research addresses the need to understand the organizational structures, duties, and practices of LELs, who serve as critical intermediaries between State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) and law enforcement agencies (LEAs). By identifying program characteristics, the study seeks to improve the effectiveness of NHTSA highway safety grants and countermeasure programs, such as those targeting impaired driving and occupant protection. The researchers employed a survey methodology, distributing online questionnaires to LELs and SHSO program managers. Contact information was obtained from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and NHTSA regional offices. Of the 179 LELs and 59 SHSO managers contacted, 105 LELs and 31 SHSO representatives completed the surveys, yielding response rates of 59% and 53%, respectively. The data collection period spanned from late 2019 to mid-2020. The surveys covered topics including LEL accountability, work experience, specific duties, communication methods, performance evaluation metrics, and barriers to LEA participation in traffic safety programs. Key findings reveal that LEL programs share substantial similarities despite diverse organizational structures. Approximately 75% of LELs reported direct accountability to their SHSOs, and over 75% focused on impaired driving, occupant protection, distracted driving, and speed management. Most LELs were former law enforcement officers, with 55% active and 39% retired prior to their liaison roles. Primary responsibilities included recruiting LEAs for grants, providing training and technical assistance, and serving as the primary point of contact between SHSOs and the law enforcement community. In-person meetings were rated as the most effective communication method. While nearly 75% of LELs underwent performance evaluations based on metrics like LEA visits and mobilization participation, statistical analysis found no significant patterns linking specific LEL program characteristics to higher rates of LEA grant participation. The study suggests that unmeasured factors, such as state size, enforcement culture, and political issues, likely influence LEA engagement. The significance of this research lies in its detailed baseline of LEL program operations, highlighting that while structural characteristics do not predict participation rates, specific individual traits are crucial for success. The study identifies superior communication and interpersonal skills, knowledge of state traffic laws, strong connections with LEAs, and high energy as essential factors for productive liaison programs. These findings inform NHTSA and state agencies on the competencies required for effective liaison roles and underscore the importance of interpersonal dynamics over administrative structures in motivating law enforcement participation in highway safety initiatives.

Key finding

Analyses of LEL program characteristics and LEA grant participation rates uncovered no patterns, though superior communication skills and knowledge of traffic laws were identified as important factors for productive programs.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 136

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• regulatory evaluation

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations
• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence