It is the policy of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department to cooperate with the media in establishing and maintaining procedure to disseminate information which the public has a legitimate interest. Dissemination of information to the media will be provided on a fair and equal basis and in a factual, timely and accurate manner. This department seeks a cooperative understanding which allows the news media to gather information of the public interest in a manner that does not hamper law enforcement operations.

However, in some cases, certain information must be withheld in order to protect constitutional rights, to avoid interfering with a department investigation, or because it is legally privileged. No release will be made that would compromise the integrity of any ongoing criminal investigation. In such cases media notification will be made as soon as practical. At no time will members of this department intentionally mislead or misinform members of the media.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department uses a variety of procedures for dissemination of information to the media. These procedures include:

• E-mailed news releases and Alerts
• Faxed news releases and Alerts
• MAPS Paging (a text message to a pager or cell phone)
• Website postings

Media personnel are encouraged to keep their contact information current.

• To add, update or remove your e-mail address from the news release and alert group, please send and e-mail to info@tularesheriff.info with your request.
• To add, update or remove your fax number, please send an e-mail to info@tularesheriff.info ,fax to (559)737-4602 or call 1-800-808-0488 and provide your agency name and fax number.
• To add your text pager or cell phone to the MAPS paging system please call 1-800-808-0488 and provide your name, number with area code, agency and service provider for your phone or pager or send a test message from your phone to info@tularesheriff.info.

The Sheriff’s Department has a designated Public Information Officer (PIO).The PIO acts as a liaison between the department and representatives of the media.

During business hours, media calls are directed to the PIO. After hours, on weekends and holidays media calls are directed to our 24 hour non– emergency line and relayed to the on duty watch commander. On occasion, the PIO may be available during major scenes as requested by the watch commander. When this occurs an alert will be sent with the PIO’s location.

Sergeant Chris Douglass is the Department’s Public Information Officer. She has held the position since January of 2006. Her office is located at the Personnel and Training Division compound at 36004 Road 112, in Visalia. Her contact information is listed below.

Sergeant Chris Douglass
During business hours 8-5, M-F: 559-735-1825
After hours, holidays: 559-733-6218
cdouglass@co.tulare.ca.us