Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- DUI Unit
- Traffic Unit

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Florida Department of Transportation

Florida Law Enforcement Liaison (LEL)

 What:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was awarded 2^nd  place in the 2018 Florida Law Enforcement Challenge for traffic safety initiatives and programs in Pinellas County last year.   

When:
The awards ceremony was held on July 13, 2018, at 10:00 a.m..

Where:
The awards ceremony was held at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World.

Why/How:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office received 2nd place recognition for its traffic safety initiatives and programs at the 2018 Florida Law Enforcement Challenge awards ceremony held on July 13, 2018, at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World.

The Florida Law Enforcement Challenge is a Florida Law Enforcement Liaison (LEL) program funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Florida Department of Transportation. Every year, the Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Program rewards the best overall traffic safety programs in Florida.

This year, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was among more than 200 law enforcement agencies across the State of Florida, competing in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge. Each agency was evaluated for their overall traffic safety programs, efforts to enforce laws and educate the public about impaired driving, seat belt usage, speeding, pedestrian safety, and other areas of traffic safety in 2017.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office took 2nd place overall in the category for law enforcement agencies with over 400 law enforcement officers.

The Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Program goal is to reduce traffic related fatalities and injuries by working with law enforcement agencies across the state to support enforcement and educational efforts in traffic safety.  

Pictured from left to right: Janice Martinez (LEL), Captain Nick Lazaris, Deputy Scott Pierce, Deputy Howie Miller, Lieutenant Scott Matthews, and Lora Hollingsworth (Chief Safety Officer- FDOT).