NEWS RELEASE 21-004 - JANUARY 21, 2021 

From left: Senior Assistant General Counsel Julie Liang, Sergeant Peter Lubrano, Captain James Forrest, Lieutenant Joseph Mitchell,  Major Brian Woodring, Sergeant Jesse Gieseke, General Counsel Crystal Bailey, and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. 

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to promote seven sheriff’s office members to new ranks.

Corrections Deputy Peter Lubrano is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Lubrano began his career with the sheriff’s office in 2013 when he was hired as a Corrections Deputy recruit. Over the course of his career, Lubrano worked in several areas of the correctional facility including housing, culinary, and as a full-time field training officer in booking. Lubrano was twice nominated for Courts and Corrections Division Employee of the Month. He attended State College of Florida for Criminal Justice Technology, and is trained in Crisis Intervention, Spanish for Criminal Justice Professionals, Managing and Communicating with Inmates and Offenders, and more.  

Deputy Jesse Gieseke is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Law Enforcement Division. Gieseke began his law enforcement career in 2011 as a police officer with the Arlington County Police Department just outside the metro area of Washington, D.C. In 2016, he was hired by the sheriff’s office as a patrol deputy and in 2017, joined the agency’s SWAT team. In 2018, Gieseke was nominated for Law Enforcement Division Employee of the Month and later that year, recognized with a Life Saving Award. Gieseke was most recently assigned to the agency’s Tactical Unit and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida.

Corrections Sergeant Joseph Mitchell is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Mitchell joined the sheriff’s office in 2001 and promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007. He received the Life Saving Award in 2009, the Meritorious Achievement Award in 2019, and was twice nominated for Courts and Corrections Division Employee of the Month. Mitchell is a graduate of both the 46^th FDLE Florida Leadership Academy and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Leadership Academy. He earned his bachelor’s degree from New Charter University.

Corrections Lieutenant James Forrest is promoted to the rank of Captain assigned to the Corrections Services Bureau. Forrest joined the sheriff’s office in 1994 after earning his law enforcement certification from Manatee Area Vocational and Technical Center. Four years later, Forrest became a field training officer, joined the Corrections Emergency Response Team, and was promoted to corporal. In 2002, Forrest was again promoted to the rank of sergeant, and in 2003, promoted to lieutenant. In 2005, Forrest became a certified Model Jail Inspector. The following year, Forrest received a Unit Citation and graduated from the 10^th Saint Leo University Command Officer Program. Over the course of his career while serving as an administrative lieutenant, Forrest oversaw various projects and areas within the facility including accreditation, jail inspections, jail technologies, classification, contract compliance, booking, property, and the south county annex. Forrest also served as the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) Commander from 2014 until 2016. He earned his bachelor’s degree from International College of Naples and his master’s degree from Saint Leo University. 

Assistant General Counsel Julie Liang is promoted to Senior Assistant General Counsel. Liang earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of South Florida in 2009 and her Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law in 2012. Liang worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit from 2012 until 2019, when she was hired by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Liang is a member of the Florida Bar, Sarasota County Bar Association, Florida Association of Police Attorneys, and Florida Association of Women Lawyers.  

Senior Assistant General Counsel Crystal Bailey is promoted to General Counsel. Bailey earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Miami University in 2004 and her Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law in 2009. Bailey worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit handling all levels of offenses, grand jury indictments, and was part of the Gang Prosecution Unit. She was hired by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office as the Assistant General Counsel in 2014 and promoted to Senior Assistant General Counsel in 2017. Bailey is a current member of the Florida Bar, the Sarasota County Bar Association, Florida Association of Police Attorneys, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the John M. Scheb Inn of Court. She is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Leadership Institute and was recently recognized by SRQ Magazine as an elite Top Attorney Honoree in the areas of Government and Administrative Law.

Captain Brian Woodring is promoted to the rank of Law Enforcement Major. Woodring joined the sheriff’s office in 1996 when he was hired as a deputy assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Over the course of his career, Woodring worked in the Criminal Investigations Section, Community Policing Unit, Youth Services Section, DUI Unit, Intelligence Unit, and Emergency Operations Bureau. In 2010, Woodring joined the agency’s SWAT Team and in 2017, he graduated from the National Tactical Officers Association’s SWAT Team Leader Development Course. Woodring received the Life Saving Award in 2014 after rendering aid, while off-duty, to a man suffering a heart attack. In 2018, he graduated from the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association’s 306th Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives, as well as the 241st Executive Leadership Institute. In 2018, Woodring assumed the role of SWAT Team Commander and was promoted to the rank of Captain. Woodring is a graduate of both the FBI’s Florida Executive Development Seminar and Southern Police Institute’s 77th Command Officers Development Course through the University of Louisville. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania where he was the captain of the Slippery Rock football team and became an All-American. Woodring also holds a master’s degree from the University of South Florida. 

“This is a tremendous day for our agency and the future of our administration,” commented Sheriff Hoffman. “These men and women are natural leaders who have worked very hard and I am proud to elevate them to their new ranks. I am also pleased to announce the newest members of my senior staff who will help guide the sheriff’s office and our community toward a stronger, safer future.”