Serving the international community in any city is always challenging. Doing so for the largest U.S. sheriff’s department in an extremely diverse region takes it to a whole new level, as Foreign Relations Specialist Karen Baroudi knows firsthand. 

Ms. Baroudi joined the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) in 2009. In her current position. Ms. Baroudi serves as a point of contact for all foreign governments and coordinates foreign police requests for assistance. Her work also includes liaising with the Los Angeles Consular Corps, which is composed of approximately 100 consulates in the area. Ensuring that the LASD fulfills its notification and access obligations to the Consular Corps under the Vienna Convention is paramount to Ms. Baroudi’s work. Additionally, she has arranged officer exchanges and coordinated cross-agency training on a variety of policing topics.  

Ms. Baroudi’s command of multiple languages and her knowledge of various cultures have proven valuable in many complex situations. Her expertise was recently called upon following a January 2023 shooting in the diverse community of Monterey Park, California. Amid the chaos, Ms. Baroudi fielded hundreds of inquiries from foreign governments, provided information to the U.S. State Department, and ensured the sheriff’s department effectively addressed the international matters at hand.  

As an immigrant and a survivor of the Lebanese Civil War, Ms. Baroudi views working with law enforcement as her chance to serve and open doors. In 14 years on the job, she has received multiple commendations and awards for her accomplishments, all while staying rooted in the belief of service to the community. 

“We are blessed to live in a country with a functioning political system, with rule of law, respect for differing opinions, and the opportunity to make something of oneself.”