santa clara county sheriff pio
She supports appointing a civilian watchdog to audit law-enforcement practices and management. That was the process before I started, Glennon answered. "Based on the evidence that we retrieve, if we have enough information to link this back to a person responsible to this incident, there will be homicide charges that will be sent over to the district attorney's office. He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. Some of his initiatives in Palo Alto include forming a community advisory committee, which helped inform his relationship with residents and to understand their concerns. Last week, two members of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors called for an investigation into Smith and the Sheriffs Office after the injuries and deaths of jail inmates. Nielsen and AS Facebook team manager Jack Stromgren, accused of instructing his agents to fill in false in-county addresses on their CCW applications, testified they were in line for similar consideration as West. Former Pleasanton cop found not guilty of murder in DUI crash He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance. Instead, he chose a career in law enforcement so he could institute reforms while keeping the public safe, he said. The city has also faced a number of lawsuits during Jonsen's tenure, alleging excessive use of force by Palo Alto officers. From day one, I would be handing over all documents to the Board of Supervisors and (Independent Police Auditor) Michael Gennaco that they have asked for. 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. So Nielsen said he contacted his friend Nichols, CEO of Milpitas firearms dealer The Gun Co. Nichols then introduced Nielsen to Jensen, and they agreed in principle to exchange political donations for concealed-carry permits. "I'm a talker. Smiths close aide, 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. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo on Monday called for the resignation of Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith amid multiple use-of-force incidents and alleged misconduct under her watch, and on . She now faces potential removal from office after being accused by a civil grand jury of corrupt misconduct. Checking all three boxes gets a permit seeker to the next stage, a background check. One male was revived with Narcan and was transported to a local hospital.". Before arriving in California, she was an investigative/enterprise reporter for Fresh Take Florida, a news service offered by UF. Of more than 700 people who applied for a CCW permit in Santa Clara County in the past six years, records show that fewer than 150 ever received one. Email: publicin formation@dao.sccgov.org. 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. We're not adequately trained to provide long-term care for people," he said. He would wear the uniform and be out in the community and working alongside his deputies. Menu. Russell Davis said. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. He rose to the rank of captain and held the post of assistant chief in the Department of Correction for two years. Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. She said she would have an ongoing "meet the deputies" program to improve the agency's relationship with the community.Can the candidates straighten out the sheriff's office, restore the public's confidence in its transparency and accountability and reform its jail system?In alphabetical order, here's what they had to say. "I am the only candidate to call for ending the encryption of radios, and I have been calling for the end of this policy since launching my campaign. Allen says his broad experience as a patrol cop, training officer, jail officer and in the gang unit and as an investigator make him the most well-rounded candidate for sheriff. Otherwise, your forms go into a filing cabinet on the fourth floor of the sheriffs Younger Avenue office, never to be looked at again. And the issue that has drawn the strongest scrutiny is the sheriffs allocation of concealed-carry weapon permits, the licenses that allow civilians to legally carry handguns in public. If someone is getting into the job so they can chase a person, they aren't right for the job, he said. He would wear the uniform and be out in the community and working alongside his deputies. In late 2012, he served as the initiative's statewide risk-program manager.He has been an independent consultant since his retirement and has taught new recruits and law-enforcement managers. Jensen, 58, is a repeat candidate for Santa Clara County sheriff, having previously fought for the seat in the 2014 election against incumbent Smith. That's why I'm great for this position.". I also hear that the going rate for a CCW permit expedite fee was $20,000. Researchers are honing in on potential Fentanyl vaccine amid national opioid crisis, 'Injecting Hope' | Watch documentary on innovative program tackling drug overdose, fentanyl epidemic. Jonsen also touted his efforts to engage with every person on his staff, initiating a one-on-one meeting to gauge their training and experience and areas where they need to improve. San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com), The DA accuses the Sheriff's Office of offering CCW permits in exchange for political contributions. "In the sheriff's office, I was referred to as OJ Simpson," he said.The false arrest "gave me the determination to become a law enforcement officer who is fair, just and treats everyone I encounter equally. "In the sheriff's office, I was referred to as OJ Simpson," he said. We have made meaningful change. First of all, thank you for the bit honest reporting. With no formal guidance on how to handle gun permits, he simply watched and learned as he went. I'm the only candidate working the line. Help sustain the local news you depend on. 12. Santa Clara County: Who can build trust? I understand the complexities," he said.He is the only candidate who has been at the helm of a law-enforcement agency, he noted.Some of his initiatives in Palo Alto include forming a community advisory committee, which helped inform his relationship with residents and to understand their concerns. Robert was a member of the Bay Area News Group reporting team awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for East Bay Times coverage of the fatal "Ghost Ship" fire. Jonsen said he worked hard during the pandemic to retain a dedicated public information officer to address media . When elected, I will end this policy within the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office," she said. I can bring together diverse groups of people. Attorney Directory - Office of the District Attorney - County of Santa Clara Home FAQ Attorney Directory Attorney Directory District Attorney Jeffrey F. Rosen Phone: (408) 299-3099 Fax: (408) 287- 5076 Email: jrosen@dao.sccgov.org Read More Chief Assistant District Attorney Jay Boyarsky Phone: (408) 299-3099 Email: jboyarsky@dao.sccgov.org The DOJ doesn't require blanket encryption and allows for workarounds, but Jonsen did not create any, community critics have said. Sign up for our. And then, you are telling us, after that you would, at the instruction of now-Capt. Investigator Lacy Hyland examined the audio from that meeting, and both she and Nielsen told the grand jury that Jensen directed Nielsen to donate the second $45,000 to the Sheriffs Advisory Board. 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. Jonsen will be the 29th sheriff of Santa Clara County and the first new sheriff since 1998. He wouldn't tolerate misconduct among any personnel, regardless of rank. 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. During the campaign events, he was the one at the door collecting the money., When prosecutor Chase asked Glennon what Jensen told him to do with typical applications, those that didnt come from Smiths political supporters, he replied, They were basically put in a drawer and left in the drawer.. "The earliest memory I have is of people bringing food," he said. "My time in the military is a key component. 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.The sheriff oversees more than $188 million and 711 staff members (and an additional 1,080 staff and $200.6 million for the Department of Corrections). Jensen believes they have to get the idea that they are there to serve, even though emotions might sometimes want to get in the way.For example, when he worked on the Polly Klaas murder case, Jensen said he needed to have self-control. Why he says he's the best-qualified candidate. 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. She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. There's also a need to get more money for social services, she said. 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. San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com) [5] Two more inmates escaped from custody in Palo Alto in November 2017.[6]. "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age. Even after a finding of innocence, his arrest haunted him each time he applied for a job, he said. Allen wants employees with integrity, commitment, objectivity and who are problem solvers. He would support deputizing mental health professionals to work in the jails. I'm the only candidate working the line. Can we please prosecute these people? Nagaye's husband is of Japanese ancestry and they have biracial daughters. Jonsen said he would also address lagging recruitment and retention of deputies and staff. "Everyone has a story," retired Santa Clara County Sheriff's Capt. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office also encrypts its radio communications. Bob Jonsen, Palo Alto's police chief, is vying for a job once held by his great-uncle, Jonathan Sweigert, who was Santa Clara County sheriff from 1887 to 1891. "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. A high number of mentally ill and the unhoused need more access to social services, education, treatment and housing, she said. Updated: Jan 14, 2022 / 10:59 PM PST. When I have my one-on ones, I lay it out very clearly. After the murder of mentally ill jail inmate Michael Tyree by three guards, who were later convicted, Nagaye helped develop new policies. SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain James Jensen is photographed outside of the Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Jensen was arraigned. Jonsen also touted his efforts to engage with every person on his staff, initiating a one-on-one meeting to gauge their training and experience and areas where they need to improve. In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. "The California Highway Patrol and LAPD have shown that there are ways to work around the issues that have been brought up. "A lot of people are duck-and-cover and think they have to be blindly loyal to get ahead," he said.He would also work to build trust in the community between deputies and residents so they will feel more comfortable reporting crimes.Jail reform and use of forceJensen is "100% for front-end mental health services" that help keep people safe and out of jail. "A lot of people are duck-and-cover and think they have to be blindly loyal to get ahead," he said. She would also put a stop to abuses by jail staff of mentally ill inmates. In an instance that spurred an ongoing criminal investigation, an executive security firm with its sights set on a stack of permits was given a $90,000 donation target from a Smith aide. Kevin Jensen said during a recent interview, prefacing his own of a tough upbringing. "I know where the bad apples are. Crime and Public Safety | Listen to each of them answer questions from the public. If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. "I think we just need to not just work on the reactive piece, that means getting Narcan into people's hands, but really work on the preventive piece of reducing supply and demand and make sure that people have access to treatment if they developed an addiction," Sussman said. Home & Real Estate As sheriff, he would advocate for additional funding for mental health programs to help de-escalate crisis encounters. Required fields are marked *. Nagaye, 50, has been with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for 20 years and has been a supervising sergeant for six years. It quickly became apparent that when I took over the position that (Jensen) was still kind of the go-between between the sheriff and myself. The Sheriff's Office; Sheriff Bio; Command Staff; Mission Statement & Core Values; Newsroom; Contact Us; NEW Proposed UAS Program; NEW AB 481 6-Month Report; AB 481; SO Policies and Procedures; Open Data; Services. We occasionally hear news stories about someone getting pulled over or apprehended for some incident where a gun was found and usually, these are people with priors. So what are the odds Jenn that these people are less of a threat to the community at large than those who at least submitted their name and background info and at least go through some process (no matter how flimsy) to get the right to carry a weapon? Given how long this has been an issue, thats a problem.. Mountain View City Council kicks off process of identifying priority projects for next two years. She also supports the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT). James Jensen, attorneys Harpaul Nahal and Christopher Schumb and gun dealer Michael Nichols go to trial on Nov. 2. Early life and education [ edit] If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. If the board of supervisors says 'Why are you doing this?' Her father-in-law doesn't know if he will be targeted when he goes out. And yet, Dr. Sussman says they are dying from drugs more than ever before. 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. He has worked for a sizable chunk of his career in the same jail where he was once incarcerated as a scared teenager.Allen, 51, is a 32-year veteran and sergeant of the sheriff's office. In most agencies that use a 10 code, the common term is '103' to go to a different channel for confidential information. If you have any questions about the videos posted on here, please contact the Public Information Officer at 408-808 . Richard Glennon. Jensen. Sergeant Russell Davis says fentanyl is the most dangerous drug in the country right now and stopping this crisis remains their top priority. Sheriff Smith reportedly stopped issuing them in 2018 after Rosen began serving search warrants to find links between political donations and the concealed-carry permits. "Your job is never retribution," he said. When asked about SB 1000, Sen. Josh Becker's bill to limit radio encryption, Jensen expressed caution. "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. And yet no one was kept any safer by denying issuance of permits to the average non-criminal citizens of Santa Clara County, except for criminals who know they can randomly attack someone and face no armed resistance. The city paid a $572,500 settlement for the violent 2018 arrest of Gustavo Alvarez at the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, which also sparked an FBI investigation. The Sheriffs media people handled the CCW requests. In a Silicon Valley Public Accountability Foundation questionnaire of the candidates, Colton framed her responses in Constitutional terms: The sheriff protects the citizens and upholds their Constitutional rights. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office | San Jose CA He would basically bring me the applications that she had approved to move forward, Glennon testified. (@SJPD_PIO) March 1, 2022. On Aug. 31, on the first arraignment date for the case. 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. "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age. ", RELATED: Researchers are honing in on potential Fentanyl vaccine amid national opioid crisis. This is the official Youtube channel of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. "Unfortunately, three of . Four of the contenders for her seat are law-enforcement veterans, a requirement for the office: Sean Allen, Kevin Jensen, Bob Jonsen and Christine Nagaye. The conundrum she faces, is that either she knew which suggests a corrupt decision-making process or she didnt know, which suggests an ineffective management practice, said Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority also contracted with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement service. The sheriff has come under attack after allegations of abuse and mismanagement in the county's jails. If you want to attack the sheriff for trying to do a job that jails are not ever intended to be, treatment facilities for mentally ill people, youre going to have problems.. Did it seem a little odd that instead of this guy going to the Sheriff's Office and handling his business, he was doing it at Starbucks? Deputy District Attorney John Chase asked Cooks during his second round of testimony. Kevin Jensen A well-rounded retiree who wants to rebuild trust"Everyone has a story," retired Santa Clara County Sheriff's Capt. By showing our complete transparency, it's going to build trust in the community again. "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. You can't take the Fifth. They don't want someone peeking behind the curtain," he said. All rights reserved. James Jensen, took a glance. The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. She also supports the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT). The first witness in the civil corruption trial against Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith testified Friday. As sheriff, he would work to instill a culture and ethic that is "beyond a warrior mentality." He didn't let his experience embitter him. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Wed, Mar 01, 2023 . Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? Jensen, you would just stick it in a filing cabinet?. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Best coffee city in the world? RELATED: Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? Nagaye said she would also be transparent with the media and would be responsive when the media comes to an event. The incident was a brazen riff on Californias carefully crafted concealed-gun permit law, but it emerges as typical of Santa Clara Countys freewheeling, pay-to-play version of the process, as alleged in testimony detailed in 900 pages of grand jury transcripts released late last month. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency that serves Santa Clara County, California. With election day less than a week away, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's race is down to two candidates: Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Regarding the office's use of its budget, Nagaye said that if elected, "I would hire a forensic accountant to find out where the pitfalls are with money. | About Us | Comments Policy | Advertising & Partnerships | Contact Us | Facebook | Twitter, A look inside San Jose politics and culture. Los Angeles, 17 things to do in Santa Cruz, the old-school beach town that makes for a charming getaway, 12 reasons why Sycamore Avenue is L.A.s coolest new hangout, Fox News finally reveals its kryptonite: the bottom line, The Week in Photos: California exits pandemic emergency amid a winter landscape, Snowboarder dies at South Lake Tahoe resort, California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required, Welcome to the world, baby Winter, born amid a snowstorm in Lake Arrowhead, Gripped by grace: Thousands gather for Bishop OConnells funeral Mass. She would retrain more deputies who are on patrol in these skills and add more mental health services onto PERT teams. The grand jury convened July 20 of this year and handed down its indictments Aug. 6. "I'm 100% in favor of full transparency. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children.Endorsements: The Rev. She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. Courtesy photos. 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. It all seemed to unravel after an executive security agent with no history of support for Smith forced his way into the VIP realm with a really big check. San Jose Inside. Your contribution matters. I would be there and listening," she said.Nagaye said she is a born leader. 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. I have been in contact with Sen. Becker and his office about SB 1000 and support it 100%. If the records clean, they can sign up for a class to prove firearm proficiency. Sean Allen He's experienced both sides of law enforcement. San Jose Police Arrest Man They Say Used Explosives to Damage PG&E Transformers, Quakes Open 2023 Season at PayPay Stadium Saturday, Legislators Look at Expanding Employee Safety Laws to Include California's Domestic Workers, All Charges Dropped Against Key Defendant in Santa Clara County Sheriff Firearm Permits Trial, Appeals Court Disqualifies Rosen in Sheriff Firearm Permits Case, Appeals Court Issues Order to Show Cause in CCW Case, Faced with DNA Evidence, Convicted Killer Pleads Guilty to Another Cold Case Murder, DA Rosen Quits Twitter, Says Musk Is Spreading 'Hatred and Bigotry', 'Cash for Guns' Event Scheduled for Dec. 10 in Morgan Hill, New Defendants in CCW Case Push Back on Bribery Claims, Defendants Plead Not Guilty in Santa Clara County CCW Case, Ex-Sheriff Smith Guilty of Corruption, Says Civil Court Jury, Charge Trump with a Crime, Say 84% of Power Poll Respondents, Judge Rejects Sheriff Smith's Pleas for Dismissal, as She Denies All Charges, Judge Denies Motion for DA's Recusal From CCW Case, Exclusive: Sheriff Smith, Second-in-Command Take the Fifth, https://www.sccgov.org/sites/sheriff/Pages/ccw.aspx, San Jos Reports No Citations under New Gun Law, and Gun Fees Are Months Away, Court Watchdog Arrested Just Weeks after Violent Encounter with Sheriff Deputy over Video, San Jose, San Francisco Trail Other Metro Areas in Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery, San Jose Inside | A look inside San Jose politics and culture. 26205 requires sheriffs to process CCW petitions within 90 days of receiving them or a month after clearing a backgroundwhichever comes later. It provides general-service law enforcement to unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, as well as incorporated cities within the county that have contracted with the agency for law-enforcement services such as Saratoga, Cupertino, and Los Altos Hills. "I understand the need for community-based, world-class law enforcement. Other agencies use cellphones, Nextel, or computers," he said.Communities of colorAllen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. 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. On December 15, 1998, Laurie Smith became the 28th person to hold the position of sheriff in Santa Clara County, California and the first woman law enforcement officer to hold the office of sheriff in the history of California. The false arrest "gave me the determination to become a law enforcement officer who is fair, just and treats everyone I encounter equally.". He wouldn't tolerate misconduct among any personnel, regardless of rank. The department is also documenting microaggressions to track hate-incident patterns to proactively intervene before they escalate to crimes.Everyone deserves equal protection "regardless of their ZIP code," he said.As sheriff, he said, he would continue community policing and engage in outreach to help all areas of the community.The most important quality he wants in his deputies"Compassion, respect and integrity. Her failure to produce documents to the county's Office of Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring caused the county Board of Supervisors to unanimously confer a vote of no confidence on her last August.She now faces potential removal from office after being accused by a civil grand jury of corrupt misconduct. Its a stretch to ask voters to believe that these are all altruistic decisions by the defendants, Percival said. The city paid a $572,500 settlement for the violent 2018 arrest of Gustavo Alvarez at the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, which also sparked an FBI investigation. Jonsen notes that after fully encrypting radio communications, his department launched a "Calls for Service" interactive map that shows incidents to which officers have responded in the past 24 hours. 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. The best way for the sheriff's office to support these communities, Nagaye said, is by building relationships of familiarity and trust by getting involved with and going into the community. His department began recording hate incidents after local hate crimes and incidents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The biggest is honesty.