Karla Carranza grew up attending Lynwood public schools. Karla is a strong supporter of higher education.  She attended and graduated from East Los Angeles Community College with an Associate’s Degree and later transferred to California State University, Long Beach where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree. Wanting to give back to her community, she began her career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2005. She attended the LASD Academy and graduated, becoming a Deputy Sheriff.  She was assigned to work in the LA County jails and was able to see firsthand what programs worked and which programs did not, for those awaiting trial for their open court cases and those completing their sentence. 

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She later worked at the Century Station where she patrolled various areas to include the city of Lynwood, and unincorporated areas of Florence / Firestone / Walnut Park and the Willowbrook areas.  Making it a priority for her to engage with the youth, to steer them in the right direction.  Her leadership skills and ability to work well with others resulted in her promotion to Sergeant.

 

Karla knows firsthand the issues in the communities served by LASD and is reachable to the line-level personnel who experience the day-to-day operations and issues with LASD.  As an active member of law enforcement, she has the most current and up to date training to meet the needs of Los Angeles County.  She has a Basic, Intermediate, Advance and Supervisory Peace Officer Standard in Training (POST) Certificate, with approximately twenty-one years of Law Enforcement Experience.

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Karla has never hesitated to speak openly about the issues and concerns facing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She refuses to turn a blind eye or pretend that everything is fine when the department is clearly facing real challenges.  As the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department faces lawsuits from both the federal and state Departments of Justice, Karla is prepared to confront and correct the deficiencies within the county jail system. Having served in the jails as both a line-level deputy and later as a Sergeant, she brings firsthand operational experience that allows her to implement practical, meaningful reforms. Her leadership will focus on improving safety for both staff and inmates—reducing violence inside the jails while also lowering the risk of costly lawsuits and preventable inmate deaths.

 

When she is not working to keep the public safe, Karla enjoys time with her family in the City of Whittier, the community they proudly call home. She is ready to earn your vote and bring positive change to everyone in Los Angeles County.