By Robert Mills, rmills@lowellsun.com
LOWELL -- It can be a tough job, convincing the Cambodian and minority communities that the police are here to help them, and assisting the victims of domestic crime that can be truly horrific.
Despite the highs and lows, Sara Khun, 32, loves her job with the Lowell Police Department.
Khun wears two hats for just one salary -- one as the department's community liaison, working with neighborhood groups and residents around the city, and the other coordinating outreach to the Asian community.
Go to a neighborhood meeting anywhere in Lowell, and chances are you'll bump into Khun.
She is also the director of victim services, working within the Family Services Unit, which deals with domestic violence, to help crime victims navigate the court and legal systems.
Khun helps those who have endured pain and abuse to find shelter, counseling, food. She helps them get restraining orders.
"When you try everything you can to help a victim, but a few months down the road they're back to the same situation -- it's frustrating," she said. "But, yeah, I love this job. I know I'm making a difference and helping people."
Khun was born in Cambodia. A refugee at 5 years old, she came to the United States with her parents in 1981 -- first to Chicago, and then to Lowell in 1987.
She attended the McAvinnue Elementary School, Lowell High School, and then UMass Lowell. She got her degree in criminal justice and did an internship at Lowell District Court.
There was a position in the department for a community liaison 4 1/2 years ago. She was with the department for about two years when the Family Services Unit was reorganized, and the victim-services position opened up.
In both roles, she works to get people to trust the police enough to report the crimes they fall victim to.
"Much of the minority community still doesn't trust the department," she said. "I'm trying to get out there and let people know that you can approach us, and we'll do everything we can to help you."
Khun also works to help Cambodians overcome their distrust of law-enforcement caused by years of abuse at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, which has been blamed for the deaths of as many as 2 million Cambodians.
"It's still a major, major challenge," she said. "We're not just about arresting people. We're also about helping, and not a lot of people know that."
Khun is married, with a 13-month-old son, and lives in Lowell.
"She is truly instrumental at maintaining relationships with the Cambodian community and the entire city," Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee said. "She works very hard to keep that trust and open line of communication.
"My hat goes off to her because she is exceptional."
This story appeared in the Lowell Sun on Monday, July 7, 2008