Santa Clara County sheriff candidates Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Jensen. The false arrest "gave me the determination to become a law enforcement officer who is fair, just and treats everyone I encounter equally.". News She would retrain more deputies who are on patrol in these skills and add more mental health services onto PERT teams. He would wear the uniform and be out in the community and working alongside his deputies. But Jensen faces several felony counts of conspiracy, bribery and falsification of records in a case that has also ensnared attorneys Christopher Schumb, Harpaul Nahal, gun manufacturer Michael Nichols and former AS Solution CEO Christian West. I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. I can bring together diverse groups of people. In 2015, the average daily population for the Santa Clara County Correctional facilities was . When asked for his stance on whether full encryption of radio communications is necessary, Allen said: "Radio encryption is just another way to prevent being transparent by law-enforcement agencies. On Aug. 31, on the first arraignment date for the case, West pleaded guilty as part of a deal to help the prosecution in exchange for charging and sentencing leniency. "I have a proven record for establishing strong community policing programs and developing strategic solutions," he said. On Aug. 31, on the first arraignment date for the case. There's already a common practice in law enforcement to switch to a different channel for private conversations. The state Attorney General's Office cleared Christopher Schumb of two felony charges Monday morning, citing lack of evidence. The gregarious former public information officer rapidly climbed the ranks from sergeant to lieutenant to captain as he became the offices portal for political patronage. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children. If the board of supervisors says 'Why are you doing this?' About Us. | About Us | Comments Policy | Advertising & Partnerships | Contact Us | Facebook | Twitter, A look inside San Jose politics and culture. He was also the risk and information-sharing program manager for the Urban Area Security Initiative and was tasked with terrorism prevention, mitigation, response and recovery for the 12-county Bay Area region. "Don't be afraid to bring someone else in," she said, to help de-escalate or assess the situation.She supports California legislative bill SB 2, which creates a statewide system to revoke the license of a police officer who commits serious misconduct, and SB 16, which requires disclosure of a sustained finding of excessive use of force if an officer failed to intervene when another officer used unreasonable or excessive force.She would also make sure that all officers rotate among enforcement and custody positions so they have a well-rounded view of inmates and a broad range of experiences.Nagaye supports funding a mental health wellness center over building a new jail. If you've had an incident, be honest and let me know. The more honest you are, the easier we can approach it. However, persons residing in a municipality other than those served by the Sheriffs Office are encouraged to first contact their local police chief and apply for the license. First of all, thank you for the bit honest reporting. This is the official Facebook page for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. In late 2012, he served as the initiative's statewide risk-program manager. The agency has been stingy with the privilege about 150 permits were issued or renewed between 2014 and 2019, out of over 750 applications. Shortly after Smiths 2018 re-election her most competitive contest to date the Metro newspaper asked the DAs office about the $45,000 donation. You don't serve the master.". All rights reserved. The former UFC heavyweight champion is being held at the Santa Clara County Jail. A week later, the DAs office served search warrants at the sheriffs headquarters. You can't take the Fifth. In Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties, the sheriffs offices grant the permits at twice the rate of Santa Clara County and typically have twice as many active licenses at any given moment. Jensen also reportedly took private meetings with VIP applicants outside the Sheriffs Office, sometimes at a nearby Starbucks or Jamba Juice on Coleman Avenue. Become a Member Even if force is used, I have high expectations that my officers know the laws," he said. Because thats just the way things worked, Cooks said he didnt think much about it. Endorsements: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley; multiple individual donors, many of whom are Santa Clara County Sheriff deputies. As sheriff, he would make mental health treatment a priority and would work collaboratively with other police agencies and county and state agencies to address issues that lead to incarceration, including homelessness, substance abuse and mental illness. Santa Clara County voters will choose between five candidates for sheriff in the June 2022 primary election. When people can't get information from the news and the sheriff is not responsive, it creates distrust in the community, she said. For years its been an open secret in Santa Clara County that political supporters of Smith received special treatment from her agency. She said she would have an ongoing "meet the deputies" program to improve the agency's relationship with the community. Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff 3 years 10 months Public Information Officer (PIO) Apr 2021 - Present1 year 2 months Deputy Sheriff Aug 2018 - Apr 20212 years 9 months Office. He has instituted mindfulness strategies to improve officers' well-being. TheSixFifty.com He is a former Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association board member and a lifelong martial artist and instructor. While I am in favor of these efforts towards transparency, I want to ensure that they will be implemented without delay in receiving vital database returns or in any way jeopardizing officers or victims due to such delays," he said.Communities of colorJensen, whose wife is Hispanic, said he would sit down with members of the public, particularly the underserved, to work on problems and gain trust. 2,995 were here. She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. The change meant that disputes that involve two officers including an incident in which a police captain was accused of using a racial slur would be privately investigated by the Human Resources Department and screened from the public. Jonsen acknowledged that excessive-force incidents have occurred, but he said they have been thoroughly reviewed and the involved officers were held accountable, including the departure of officers who were found culpable. If you are not honest and you lie on a report and you get caught, then it's hard for me to help somebody," she said. Nagaye said she would invest in much more training and in a training unit. Endorsements: Wide ranging, including the Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association, multiple fire and police groups and individuals, including retired Palo Alto police Chief Dennis Burns. "Custody has one budget and enforcement has another. Kevin Jensen A well-rounded retiree who wants to rebuild trust. Nagaye's husband is of Japanese ancestry and they have biracial daughters. I'm not above anything. TownSquare Jennifer Wadsworth is the former news editor for San Jose Inside and Metro Silicon Valley. His department began recording hate incidents after local hate crimes and incidents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Jail reform and use of forceNagaye supports having a civilian watchdog to audit law enforcement practices and the management of the county jails. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. The transcripts provide tantalizing hints although little direct evidence that the ongoing investigation is getting closer to the six-term sheriff, one of the regions best-known local politicians. Most are honest and do have integrity. Thinking you can't be held accountable is narcissistic. Jensen is "100% for front-end mental health services" that help keep people safe and out of jail. A mother of three, the San Jose resident said she would always "be there for my deputies.". Reginald Cooks, the first PIO from the sheriffs custody division, assumed the role in 2017 and worked over the ensuing couple of years alongside Glennon at first and later with then-Deputy Michael Low. SAN JOSE, Calif. - Just days after former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith retired, she was found guilty of six civil counts of corruption and willful conduct. Before arriving in California, she was an investigative/enterprise reporter for Fresh Take Florida, a news service offered by UF. Your email address will not be published. "We sent detectives and crime scene investigators to the residence to conduct a full and thorough investigation," Sgt. Michael Low described feeling much the same way when he came to the PIO position as a deputy in early 2019. "My exposure to these things has given me a different insight," he said. I represent the diversity of Santa Clara County. In this policy there's a lot of focus on mental health and the severely mentally ill. By cooling-off periods for inmates, we slowed things down a lot," she said.Nagaye said she believes in de-escalation techniques and training deputies to talk people in crisis down. Jonsen and his wife, a doctor, have two sons and a young grandson. The winning applications usually came from Undersheriff Rick Sung, Capt. Obituaries, Send News Tips Mountain View City Council kicks off process of identifying priority projects for next two years. Courtesy Bob Jonsen. In the 20 years I've been in this agency I only used pepper spray one time and I was ordered to use it," she said.During her training sessions, Nagaye said she focuses on getting deputies to stop thinking about "going hands on" with inmates as a first resort. Neither Sheriff Smith nor her PIOs are accused of any crimes. Personal attorneys for Smith and Sung have said their clients have no culpability in the indicted crimes. While at the sheriff's office, he was the Stanford Department of Public Safety liaison, county jail administration commander, court security division commander and administrative coroner. He rose to the rank of captain and held the post of assistant chief in the Department of Correction for two years.While at the sheriff's office, he was the Stanford Department of Public Safety liaison, county jail administration commander, court security division commander and administrative coroner. "We have to earn it. The sheriff has come under attack after allegations of abuse and mismanagement in the countys jails. Crime and Public Safety | L.A. wants to evict families living in luxury hotel since botched 2021 fireworks detonation Smith, who announced her retirement on Monday while the jury was deliberating, faced the charges in a civil trial that had been filed by a Santa County Civil Grand Jury in December. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Would you see if they lived in the county?, Would you send them a letter telling them you got it, you are not getting it?, As PIO, Glennon said hed often field calls from frustrated applicants checking on the status of their permits. RELATED: Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age. On April 21, the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara hosted a forum for the five candidates for Sheriff of Santa Clara County: Sean Donte Allen, Kevin Jensen, Robert "Bob Jonsen, Christine Nagaye, Anh T. Colton (unable to attend). He would institute listening sessions with the community and hear about any problems people have with deputies or other personnel, he said. While I am in favor of these efforts towards transparency, I want to ensure that they will be implemented without delay in receiving vital database returns or in any way jeopardizing officers or victims due to such delays," he said. "The biggest is honesty. Jonsen said he worked hard during the pandemic to retain a dedicated public information officer to address media inquiries, but budget cuts eliminated the position. Growing up mostly in east San Jose, he used to go to a local church for free food when he was 15 and living with his mother, who misused substances. Garrick Percival, chair of the political science department at San Jose State University, said the public will be skeptical that the defendants acted on their own despite needing Smiths signature to carry out the plot, especially given that shes faced a multitude of accusations and lawsuits over the issue in the past. "One of the crazy things of the fentanyl overdose crisis in youth is that it's happening in the face of decreasing drug use for youth. When an application would come in, Cooks said hed notify Glennon or one of their superiors and that was usually the extent of his involvement. Allen said he would work to create a culture in which anyone in the sheriff's office could come forward to report misconduct without fear of retaliation. San Jose Inside. Allen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. This was how the process worked until last year when the processing of new concealed-carry weapon permits was halted amid the DA investigation. Smith was speaking ahead of a Board of Supervisors meeting, where members were set to discuss a potential investigation of the incident in which Hogan was injured. The city also paid out $135,000 after a Palo Alto officer directed a K-9 to repeatedly bite a man who was sleeping in a shed during a manhunt for a kidnapping suspect. In 2021, after outcry from the public about the council's approval of the change, Jonsen complied with the council's reversal of the prior decision. (Questions and website comments) Service Units Directory. All rights reserved. (Illustration by Kathy Manlapaz). Can the candidates straighten out the sheriff's office, restore the public's confidence in its transparency and accountability and reform its jail system? Three people were found dead and one was transported to a hospital after a suspected fentanyl overdose in unincorporated Gilroy. All Rights Reserved. Other agencies use cellphones, Nextel, or computers," he said.Communities of colorAllen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. After attending high school in Novato, he spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Under Smith, deputies murdered a mentally ill inmate, and others in custody have been injured, costing the county millions of dollars in settlements. Law Enforcement Agency - Serving & Protecting since 1850 - Follow us on Facebook & Twitter 12K followers. When I have my one-on ones, I lay it out very clearly. "Jonsen acknowledged that excessive-force incidents have occurred, but he said they have been thoroughly reviewed and the involved officers were held accountable, including the departure of officers who were found culpable.He has attended city Human Relations Commission meetings and other community meetings to discuss concerns in a transparent manner and started the community advisory committee, which meets with him in private, to also address citizens' concerns.However, in 2019, Jonsen and City Manager Ed Shikada pushed to remove "complaints and investigations of internal personnel or human resources matters" from review by the city's Independent Police Auditor. She would retrain more deputies who are on patrol in these skills and add more mental health services onto PERT teams.TransparencyShe supports appointing a civilian watchdog to audit law-enforcement practices and management. Sgt. Second, I agree with HQs post, there should be a follow up on the paperwork and see how many applicants have ever been convited of possession or any other other offense vs the pile of records of violators of the law. Sunday, February 26, 2023. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority also contracted with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement service. Everyone deserves equal protection "regardless of their ZIP code," he said. Is a 2020 Biden and Harris Ticket Good for Cannabis Legalization? I also hear that the going rate for a CCW permit expedite fee was $20,000. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. Jensen said he grew up in a dysfunctional household with a troubled father who ended up incarcerated. And yet, Dr. Sussman says they are dying from drugs more than ever before. "My time in the military is a key component. Melissa Hernandez was a member of the 2021-22 Los Angeles Times Fellowship class. A high number of mentally ill and the unhoused need more access to social services, education, treatment and housing, she said. All California municipal police chiefs may issue CCWs, although some may cede this process to the sheriff. The Sheriff holds an elected office, which is voted on by the citizens of the County every four years. All rights reserved. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith's election in 1998 as California's first female sheriff signaled the end of the good old boys' network, at least as appearances go. "The stakes of making a small mistake have never been higher," Dr. Sussman said. Please DO NOT use this. As sheriff, he would provide education to the public on how to better protect their neighborhoods, and he would work collaboratively with law enforcement throughout the county. Early life and education [ edit] In alphabetical order, here's what they had to say. He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance. Contact Us. "Between enforcement and custody, there are 1,200 deputies, but it's rare to see someone in an executive position come down and talk to the people. "Custody has one budget and enforcement has another. According to Cooks, applications from prosecutors, judges, elected officials, San Jose Sharks players and other VIPs typically came through Capt. On July 20the first day of criminal grand jury proceedings to hear evidence in what Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen believes was a bribery conspiracyDeputy District Attorney Matt Braker had just finished laying out the prosecutions theories when he called first witness to the stand: Sgt. Otherwise, "we're going to continue to fail those human beings," he said.Transparency"Management is the first place you have to start to change the culture," Allen said.He would search for management-level staff outside of the department when hiring to break up cronyism, he said. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children.Endorsements: The Rev. 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[2], On August 27, 2015, mentally-ill inmate Michael Tyree was beaten to death[3] by three jail guards. "I'm a talker. "It's so lacking. To be honest, Low told Braker, I was new. Nagaye supports funding a mental health wellness center over building a new jail. The sheriff should hold his or herself to the same standards as the public. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Were going to do these investigations, Smith said. But, she says the next step is preventing overdoses before they happen. Both he and West knew it was notoriously difficult to get concealed-gun licenses in Santa Clara County. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [1] She was convicted in November. The case is still pending.Jonsen and his wife, a doctor, have two sons and a young grandson.Endorsements: Police chiefs and top law enforcement including those in Los Altos and Menlo Park; multiple members of Jonsen's community advisory group, among others.Website: bob4sheriff.comWhy he says he's the best-qualified candidateJonsen pointed to his years of experience as a chief and leader of law enforcement organizations that depend on professional experience to thrive. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. It goes a long way. Jensen said reform depends on the right leadership. That's why I'm great for this position. In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. He would establish school-outreach programs to educate children on crime prevention, gang activity, substance abuse, internet crimes and other offenses to which they can become prey. That was the process before I started, Glennon answered. Researchers are honing in on potential Fentanyl vaccine amid national opioid crisis, 'Injecting Hope' | Watch documentary on innovative program tackling drug overdose, fentanyl epidemic. At Brakers prompting, Glennon explained how a applying for a CCW should work versus how it actually worked during his few-year tenure in the unit that processed them. Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday, L.A. wants to evict families living in luxury hotel since botched 2021 fireworks detonation, Former Pleasanton cop found not guilty of murder in DUI crash, Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows, Feds drop felony gun case days after defense argued SFPD illegally arrested, searched defendant, | Criminal Justice and Public Safety Reporter. She enlisted in the U.S. Army at 19, became a medic and served five years of active duty. Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? Privacy Policy Jensen, you would just stick it in a filing cabinet?. By showing our complete transparency, it's going to build trust in the community again. Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. A lawyer-turned-lawman, Glennon handled CCW petitions from 2016 to 2019 as a member of Sheriff Laurie Smiths communications team. Allen said he has seen an increase in the number of inmates with mental illness during his career. SantaClaraCoSheriff Retweeted Nowhere in the transcripts is there testimony that explicitly links Smith to the alleged scheme, beyond her statutory authority as the only person in her office who can approve CCW permits. He has worked for a sizable chunk of his career in the same jail where he was once incarcerated as a scared teenager. You can't take the Fifth. Otherwise, "we're going to continue to fail those human beings," he said. San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com), The DA accuses the Sheriff's Office of offering CCW permits in exchange for political contributions. He has served in patrol, the gang unit, as a reserve training officer, administrative training officer, emergency response team leader and training officer, housing unit training officer in the jails and academy instructor. He has attended city Human Relations Commission meetings and other community meetings to discuss concerns in a transparent manner and started the community advisory committee, which meets with him in private, to also address citizens' concerns. Her position was if she had the application but never started the background, she was within the Penal Code, he said. Jonsen launched the Palo Alto Police Department's Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) last November, which pairs an officer with a licensed mental health clinician from the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department to provide rapid intervention to people in a mental health crisis. The incidents are listed only after officers have left the scene, however, and do not show the exact locations of the calls.Communities of colorEquity "is the primary issue of this election carrying the momentum of the last two years where we have done so much around race and equality," Jonsen said.His department began recording hate incidents after local hate crimes and incidents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. He wouldn't tolerate misconduct among any personnel, regardless of rank. I want to make it very clear that I support all of the investigations, Smith said Tuesday. After the murder of mentally ill jail inmate Michael Tyree by three guards, who were later convicted, Nagaye helped develop new policies. We're not adequately trained to provide long-term care for people," he said.He supports more mental health care facilities for inmates with psychiatric conditions. He was also the risk and information-sharing program manager for the Urban Area Security Initiative and was tasked with terrorism prevention, mitigation, response and recovery for the 12-county Bay Area region. Other agencies use cellphones, Nextel, or computers," he said. But it has been widely noticed that at least a quarter of the recipients had contributed to Smiths campaigns, in amounts of $100 to $1,000. While she fights the charges against her, Smith, 69, has decided not to run for reelection in the 2022 race after 24 years at the helm. Jonsen said he would also address lagging recruitment and retention of deputies and staff. Jensen said the county can't incarcerate its way out of its problems, but he supports a new jail with mental health services and a collaborative approach to care by working with other agencies to address the problems that lead to crime and recidivism. For example, when he worked on the Polly Klaas murder case, Jensen said he needed to have self-control. Supervisors Joe Simitan and Otto Lee called for the public release of a report and audio recording related to a 2018 incident involving Andrew Hogan, a mentally ill man who became severely disabled after he was repeatedly injured while riding in a jail transport van unrestrained.

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