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Sheriff’s Office Says Farewell to Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover
Kelly Hoover spent her last day as Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office today, July 26, 2019 and will soon take on her new role as the Community Relations Manager for the City of Goleta.
Kelly joined the Sheriff’s Office in January of 2013 and is the first female civilian to serve as the agency’s Public Information Officer. Prior to her arrival, Kelly’s experience was in the media as both a broadcast and print journalist.
Sheriff Bill Brown said she will be missed. He said, “Kelly Hoover has served the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office with extraordinary dedication and skill during the past 6 ½ years. Her efforts have resulted in the transparent conveyance of information about the many facets of the Sheriff’s Office. She strengthened the relationship our organization has with the media and the communities we serve. She did an outstanding job for us and is leaving some big shoes to fill.”
Hoover said, “I have truly loved every second of being the Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. It has been such an honor and privilege to serve my community in this way and represent a group that I have the upmost respect and admiration for. I am a better person from this experience and I thank Sheriff Bill Brown for trusting me with this incredible responsibility. We are unbelievably lucky to have such dedicated, highly trained and good-hearted people who truly want to make a difference protecting and serving the people of Santa Barbara County.”
Until a new Public Information Officer is selected, media inquiries will be handled by retired Lt. Brad McVay and Sheriff’s Adjutant Lt. Erik Raney.
The City of Goleta is pleased to announce that it has hired Kelly Hoover as our new Community Relations Manager. She will begin her role with the City on August 26. Kelly is a familiar face to the City having served the past six years as the Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to coming to the Sheriff’s Office, Kelly worked in the media for more than 15 years as both a broadcast and print journalist in markets throughout California and Oregon.
During her time at the Sheriff’s Office, Kelly handled communications during major incidents and has proven herself to be a credible and reliable source of information. Kelly also managed all social media efforts for the Sheriff’s Office including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nixle alerts. She oversaw the Sheriff’s Office website and wrote and produced the quarterly 30 minute Sheriff’s Roundup video.
“Kelly’s familiarity with Goleta and experience with the public makes her a terrific asset to the City,” said City Manager Michelle Greene. “She embodies what we are looking for in a Community Relations Manager and I am delighted to have her as the newest addition to the City.”
Kelly said, “I have had the tremendous honor of serving the citizens of Santa Barbara County as the Public Information Officer. This rewarding and challenging experience has given me the opportunity to grow exponentially as a communicator. I am excited to bring my experience and enthusiasm to serve the residents of Goleta. I have a strong and sincere connection to this vibrant community and consider it to be a very special place. I am excited for the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the people who live, work and play in Goleta. I look forward to helping the City move forward with the great work its already doing and help advance its mission and objectives. This is an exciting time for the City of Goleta, and I am thrilled to be a part of its future.”
She has always seemed extremely professional..
I met her years ago she is a very nice woman. Good Luck Kelly.
She doesn’t make decisions about operations at the department. She just says what the sheriff tells her to say.
Goleta must have some great salaries because she was pulling down $153K salaries and benefits in her last year at the County. Increased from $93K over the last 4 years. On the plus side, is anyone looking for a nice job at the Sheriff’s?
There is absolutely unethical and illegal things the Sheriff’s department is doing. I don’t even know where to begin. I used to work for law enforcement here in Santa Barbara and resigned because I was so disgusted with what was happening with taxpayer dollars and how much BS these departments bringing before the Board of Supervisors. They make it seem like it’s all good but they have covered up SO much. However last time I exposed local law enforcement agencies for their on here my comment was deleted. So no point in going into detail.
Believe it or not they make you “come” off the time instead of getting paid overtime. Ask anyone who works for Probation. They refuse to give out overtime unless it’s in their best interest. Work 10 hour+ days and being told to come in 2 hours later the following day or leave 2 hours earlier… that’s how they handle their overtime. Or you can take those two extra hours off during the same pay period. If you don’t, you just worked 2 free hours for the county.
Goleta must be doing very well to get Ms. Hoover to give up her $153K in compensation at the Sheriff’s office. Up from $93K over the last few years. I guess all that new construction results in a lot of property taxes?
Kelly will do a great job. The PIO job at the Sheriff’s Office is incredibly challenging. She was very underpaid for the hours she worked with essentially no help. The Goleta job will be challenging but exciting with lots of opportunity. Good luck Kelly!
The point was not about making decisions. The point was about not serving the public interest and telling what was going on. Do we want someone who does what she is told or someone who serves the public?
Transparent California said she was paid overtime. Are you saying the County violated wage laws by not paying her for all of the overtime hours she worked? That’s hard to believe.
Glad Kelly got out of the Sheriff’s Office. She must have seen some unethical and potentially illegal things. Like the delaying reports to the public or flat out refusing to give out information, as reported in the recent death investigations from the Grand Jury.
So you expected her to ignore her boss’ directives and issue a statement anyway?