The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department officially announced the appointment of a new spokesperson-Sergeant Alex Tipolt, formerly a supervisor of the department’s North County Gang Team. Tipolt replaces Sergeant Erik Raney, who served as the spokesperson for nearly three years. During Raney’s tenure, area residents (and the world) witnessed the Michael Jackson trial, the capture of Jesse James Hollywood, and the aftermath of the Goleta postal shootings, among other events.
