Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Date of Graduation
5-14-2026
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
School of Communication Studies
First Advisor
Kristen Okamoto
Abstract
Policing has been and remains one of the most significant issues facing society in the United States. One response to this issue which has seen a rise in the last decade is the presence of liaison officer programs, which are designed to help improve police relations with vulnerable groups by forging connections with local, identity-aligned organizations and practicing identity-first policing. This study sought to understand what the challenges faced by liaison programs are and what organizational tensions are experienced by police officers in LGBTQ Liaison positions. Following an inductive approach to analysis, participants in the study engaged in a semi-structured interview using an interview guide outlined in Appendix A in order to elicit narratives and experiences to answer these questions. In the course of data analysis it became abundantly clear that one of the most consistent communication challenges facing liaison officers was the struggle for role definition and access to organizational knowledge. Tensions of identity often presented as liaison officers faced difficulties related to their dual role as community members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community with their role as police officers. The department-facing tension brought about by liaison officers’ obligation to perform normal police duties in addition to their liaison duties was also a defining tension of practice. I conclude with applied suggestions and implications for liaison work going forward.
