He said thats how his predecessor, James Jensen, taught him to do it. SantaClaraCoSheriff Retweeted Please DO NOT use this. There needs to be accurate information, not conjecture., On Monday, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo called on Smith who was first elected in 1998 to resign. All rights reserved. Our jail is among the 100 systems nationwide with an inmate population of more than 1,000. How safe is your neighborhood? He wouldn't tolerate misconduct among any personnel, regardless of rank. I'm not above anything. Can California's power grid handle a 15-fold increase in electric cars? I can bring together diverse groups of people. Part of that effort comes in finding out how these men got the fentanyl in the first place. "Regional systems like SVRIA (Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority) would need to have a voice in the regional interoperability considerations as well. 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. Allen said he would also focus on proper training of deputies in de-escalation techniques so that uses of force and weapons are last responses. I'm a veteran, a woman and I married a man of color and I'm a LGBTQ ally. 0 During his more than three-decade career, Jonsen has taken on a number of law enforcement roles, both professional and fictional: He once held an intergalactic position as a stormtrooper in the original Star Wars movie, according to his candidate webpage.Jonsen, 59, a Palo Alto resident, has worked in law enforcement for 36 years. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) Santa Clara County's top cop, Sheriff Laurie Smith, is in hot water because a civil grand jury leveled seven counts of . Police said that the shooting was reported at 3:14 p.m. PT on . 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Smith invoked her Fifth Amendment rightagainst self-incrimination and refused to testify to the grand jury. Ending this policy, which has been adopted by many agencies around the state, is one of the first steps to regaining public trust through transparency, not to mention to support the freedom of the press as protected in the First Amendment," she said. Santa Clara County sheriff candidates Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Crime and Public Safety | At that point, in accordance with California law, its ultimately up to the sheriff in each jurisdiction to decide whether to grant it. San Jose Inside. Voters in the June 7 primary will determine which two candidates move on to the general election in November.Under Smith, deputies murdered a mentally ill inmate, and others in custody have been injured, costing the county millions of dollars in settlements. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. By showing our complete transparency, it's going to build trust in the community again. God knows we need more of it. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis. 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. "I've done about every job you can do. In November 2022, Bob Jonsen was elected to succeed Smith. 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. "Law enforcement has always had a problem with that. He has extensive experience working in corrections and as a trainer and isn't shy about standing up for what he believes in and speaking out about the improvements he believes are needed. Lets see what the truth is.. Following allegations of inmate abuse and corruption in Santa Clara County jails, Sheriff Laurie Smith on Tuesday said she stands by her staff and welcomes any investigations into her department. Embarcadero Media Your email address will not be published. Nagaye supports having a civilian watchdog to audit law enforcement practices and the management of the county jails. The Sheriff's Office has been dogged by allegations of corruption. The Sheriff holds an elected office, which is voted on by the citizens of the County every four years. Like Glennon, Cooks described a CCW permitting system with no clear rules or set timelines. 2023 Mountain View Online. 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. All California municipal police chiefs may issue CCWs, although some may cede this process to the sheriff. We can do training and have verbal discussions. The sheriff should hold his or herself to the same standards as the public. However, as a government agency, we need to maintain our presence to share information with the public, especially if it can save lives during an emergency. Can we please prosecute these people? He would institute listening sessions with the community and hear about any problems people have with deputies or other personnel, he said. He would also work to instill an ethic of maturity and patience in correctional facility officers, who often face trying circumstances with defiant inmates, he said. Kevin Jensen said during a recent interview, prefacing his own of a tough upbringing. Sean Allen He's experienced both sides of law enforcement. Personal attorneys for Smith and Sung have said their clients have no culpability in the indicted crimes. If elected, he would be a different kind of sheriff from Smith, who had once been his professional partner. Bob Jonsen A track record as a leader, but not without his criticsBob 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. It goes a long way. Otherwise, your forms go into a filing cabinet on the fourth floor of the sheriffs Younger Avenue office, never to be looked at again. "Management is the first place you have to start to change the culture," Allen said. The second public information officer (PIO) to testify took the stand on July 23. Whether or not by design, the system manufactured scarcity. 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? He has instituted mindfulness strategies to improve officers' well-being.Jonsen has been criticized, however, for a lack of transparency, including his January 2021 decision to encrypt all police radio communications, without warning, which prevents the media and other members of the public from monitoring and independently verifying incidents and police activity.He took the action due to a 2020 Department of Justice directive that prohibits the public dissemination of personally identifiable information such as names and driver's license numbers. I have nothing to hide. Sentencing in such a case could normally result in her removal from office, but the sheriff's surprise resignation two months before the end of her sixth term makes that punishment moot. "I'm 100% in favor of full transparency. In Santa Clara County, however, it seems the vast majority of applicants never got a chance to take those prerequisite steps. The state Attorney General's Office cleared Christopher Schumb of two felony charges Monday morning, citing lack of evidence. 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. Other agencies use cellphones, Nextel, or computers," he said.Communities of colorAllen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. Did you feel a little awkward pulling out a gun at Starbucks and showing it to Captain Jensen? Deputy District Attorney John Chase asked Sanders when he testified later before a criminal grand jury. 1,322 posts. He would institute listening sessions with the community and hear about any problems people have with deputies or other personnel, he said.The most important quality he wants in his deputiesAllen wants employees with integrity, commitment, objectivity and who are problem solvers. "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. Uploaded: Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 12:04 pm 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. He is a former Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association board member and a lifelong martial artist and instructor. Even if force is used, I have high expectations that my officers know the laws," he said. He announced his retirement this year and plans to step down in mid-June.Under Jonsen, the department banned neck holds and advocated for the new public safety building, which is under construction. The grand jury testimony gives the first inside look at the casual way the process worked: Jensen would make house calls to deliver VIPs their gun-permit paperwork, at least once to a judge, and in a few instances, to players for the San Jose Sharks. 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. About Us. (@SJPD_PIO) March 1, 2022. To be honest, Low told Braker, I was new. 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. It's embarrassing, everything that has come out in the past 3 to 15 years," she said. Despite these changes, and the full encryption of radio communications, Jonsen said he recognizes that the media "is crucial in building trust with the community.". A job prospect led him to San Jose, where his wife spotted a recruitment sign for deputy sheriffs. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis.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.Allen said he would also focus on proper training of deputies in de-escalation techniques so that uses of force and weapons are last responses. Neither Sheriff Smith nor her PIOs are accused of any crimes. The most important quality she wants in her deputies. Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? That's why I'm great for this position. But hes far from convinced shes finished. 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. "One of the first things he would do is work on changing the culture in law enforcement toward being forthcoming about bad players and incidents they see while on the job. 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. 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. She would hold instructors accountable for the end results if employees are not properly trained, she said. 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. I'm a veteran, a woman and I married a man of color and I'm a LGBTQ ally. The agency has been stingy with the privilege about 150 permits were issued or renewed between 2014 and 2019, out of over 750 applications. And then, you are telling us, after that you would, at the instruction of now-Capt. Christine Nagaye has used challenges throughout her life to achieve her goals. In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. Mountain View City Council kicks off process of identifying priority projects for next two years. "It's scary. That was the process before I started, Glennon answered. Ending this policy, which has been adopted by many agencies around the state, is one of the first steps to regaining public trust through transparency, not to mention to support the freedom of the press as protected in the First Amendment," she said. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. "It angers me. 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. PR MediaRelease Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. I have been in contact with Sen. Becker and his office about SB 1000 and support it 100%. Sergeant Russell Davis says fentanyl is the most dangerous drug in the country right now and stopping this crisis remains their top priority. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. 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. When asked about SB 1000, Sen. Josh Becker's bill to limit radio encryption, Jensen expressed caution. 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. Embarcadero Media file photo by Magali Gauthier. Because thats just the way things worked, Cooks said he didnt think much about it. He would support deputizing mental health professionals to work in the jails. But, she says the next step is preventing overdoses before they happen. Davis said. The DOJ doesn't require blanket encryption and allows for workarounds, but Jonsen did not create any, community critics have said.The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office also encrypts its radio communications.The city has also faced a number of lawsuits during Jonsen's tenure, alleging excessive use of force by Palo Alto officers. 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. There's already a common practice in law enforcement to switch to a different channel for private conversations. The Board of Supervisors. Follow her on Twitter at @jennwadsworth. If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. 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. Whether on the street or in the jail, officers need to act with integrity, Jensen said. 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.Another man, Julio Arevalo, filed a $10 million federal lawsuit after an officer slammed him to the ground and shattered his eye-socket bone in 2019. The grand jury convened July 20 of this year and handed down its indictments Aug. 6. "Unfortunately, three of . 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. John Arthur Getreu, 78, admitted to the 1973 murder of Lesley Perlov, 16 months after he was convicted in the 1974 killing of another woman in what proxecutors called The Stanford Murders. Related Articles If you've had an incident, be honest and let me know. Be patient.. She is a breaking news and general assignment reporter who also covers the regional environmental, health and crime beats. Express / Weekend Express A lawyer-turned-lawman, Glennon handled CCW petitions from 2016 to 2019 as a member of Sheriff Laurie Smiths communications team. In early 2022, Smith retired while under grand jury corruption charges and after a unanimous vote of no confidence by the county Board of Supervisors. Jensen, whose wife is Hispanic, said he would sit down with members of the public, particularly the underserved, to work on problems and gain trust. I have been in contact with Sen. Becker and his office about SB 1000 and support it 100%. "Custody has one budget and enforcement has another. "I was booked, stripped and housed on the same floor where Michael Tyree got murdered," he said, referring to a mentally ill inmate who was beaten to death by sheriff's deputies in 2015. "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. Nagaye said she believes in de-escalation techniques and training deputies to talk people in crisis down. To qualify for a concealed gun permit in California, an applicant must have good character, a valid reason and live in the county where its issued. He rose to the rank of captain and held the post of assistant chief in the Department of Correction for two years. Nov 21 The Sheriff's Office will be partnering up with other local law enforcement agencies in the "2022 South County Gun Buyback Program" scheduled on Saturday December 10th, 2022 at the Morgan Hill Outdoors Sports Center. She could not be reached for an interview. "For 27 years, I worked for a sheriff's organization. He also understands both sides of the law due to his early arrest and the racism he has encountered within the system.He has extensive experience working in corrections and as a trainer and isn't shy about standing up for what he believes in and speaking out about the improvements he believes are needed. There are other ways to protect confidential information. That would be a violation of state law, which requires a response be given within 90 days. "Training matters, and it influences the outcome," he said.Jonsen also said that as sheriff he would review the county jail management structure and work to implement the county's blue ribbon panel recommendations for reform.He also wants to restructure the jails to become educational facilities to help people develop skills so that they can get jobs and not offend again.TransparencyJonsen said he worked hard during the pandemic to retain a dedicated public information officer to address media inquiries, but budget cuts eliminated the position.Instead, he implemented an online system by which members of the media and the public submit a form and wait for a callback rather than talk immediately to a watch commander.Despite these changes, and the full encryption of radio communications, Jonsen said he recognizes that the media "is crucial in building trust with the community. It doesn't always need to be a disciplinary approach. The police auditor now reviews supervisory inquiry investigations, internal employee complaints of discrimination, harassment or retaliation and any use-of-force investigation where a baton, chemical agent, Taser, less-lethal projectile, canine or firearm is used, or when a subject's injuries as a result of a police use of force require treatment beyond minor medical care in the field, his website noted.Encryption of police-scanner communicationsJonsen 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. Instead, he chose a career in law enforcement so he could institute reforms while keeping the public safe, he said. Kevin Jensen A well-rounded retiree who wants to rebuild trust. Jethro Moore, chaplain of Buffalo Soldiers Silicon Valley Chapter and the Silicon Valley NAACP immediate past president; Eric Taylor, retired assistant sheriff; and multiple retired sheriff's deputies. "It's so lacking. Your contribution matters. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children. "Regional systems like SVRIA (Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority) would need to have a voice in the regional interoperability considerations as well. After the murder of mentally ill jail inmate Michael Tyree by three guards, who were later convicted, Nagaye helped develop new policies. There's also a need to get more money for social services, she said. You don't serve the master.". I represent the diversity of Santa Clara County. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? When he was 19 years old, Sean Allen was wrongfully accused, briefly incarcerated and ultimately exonerated in Santa Clara County for a crime he didn't commit. "Compassion, respect and integrity. That was the explanation they were providing., But did you ever get to it? Braker continued. Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday 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. Allen, 51, is a 32-year veteran and sergeant of the sheriff's office. Allen wants employees with integrity, commitment, objectivity and who are problem solvers. Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed. "I'm a talker. He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance. 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. It came with an implicit message: Pay up, and soon youll be packing heat. 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 would basically bring me the applications that she had approved to move forward, Glennon testified. The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. 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. Hernandez is a three-time Society of Professional Journalists award winner and her biggest passion is long-form investigative reporting. There's already a common practice in law enforcement to switch to a different channel for private conversations. 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. "We have to earn it. Courtesy Bob Jonsen. Nielsen testified that the shooting was the 9/11 of Silicon Valley, where a lot of clients started to want to have armed personnel. It was also a big opportunity for security professionals: Among the firms clients were executives with Facebook. Hm, a virtual interview from the Hawaiian Islands is being scheduled???? "I understand the need for community-based, world-class law enforcement. But he observed that some applications were handled differently. James Jensen, took a glance. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Among the apparent beneficiaries of that privilege was County Supervisor Mike Wasserman. To support the entire operation, the Department employs 223 non-sworn, civilian staff. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children.Endorsements: The Rev. Jensen said he would run a transparent sheriff's office that would openly communicate with the people it serves rather than hide information. "I was booked, stripped and housed on the same floor where Michael Tyree got murdered," he said, referring to a mentally ill inmate who was beaten to death by sheriff's deputies in 2015.He didn't let his experience embitter him. Bob Jonsen A track record as a leader, but not without his critics. Circulation & Delivery The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Custody Division is the fifth largest jail system in California, and among the 20 largest systems in the United States. 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. All defendants have denied charges of wrongdoing and plan to fight the case. 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.. SHERIFF'S OFFICE-CUSTODY BUREAU 180 W. Hedding Street San Jose, CA 95110 Deputy Russell Davis Phone: 408-808-4905 russell.davis@shf.sccgov.org Back to Top D OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY 70 West Hedding Street, West Wing San Jose, CA 95110 Sean Webby Phone: 408-792-2997 swebby@dao.sccgov.org Back to Top E OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Jensen specifically characterized their deal as a quid pro quo as he cautioned Nielsen against mentioning concealed-gun permits to advisory board president Joseph Ziegler, Hyland testified. But the biggest driver of CCW applications, by far, according to Glennon, was Capt. Advertising Info He has been an independent consultant since his retirement and has taught new recruits and law-enforcement managers. He has worked for a sizable chunk of his career in the same jail where he was once incarcerated as a scared teenager. "Training matters, and it influences the outcome," he said. In alphabetical order, here's what they had to say. He would tell his deputies: "Follow the mission. As sheriff, he would work to instill a culture and ethic that is "beyond a warrior mentality." An arraignment for the five defendants is scheduled for 9am Monday at the Santa Clara County Superior Court Hall of Justice. Email: publicin formation@dao.sccgov.org. "The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. Nagaye, 50, has been with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for 20 years and has been a supervising sergeant for six years. Jensen, Low said processed the paperwork, figuring there must be an exemption for people who spend enough of their work week in the jurisdiction. Richard Glennon. He has been married to mixed-race women who were from white, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds. Mobile site. The city has also faced a number of lawsuits during Jonsen's tenure, alleging excessive use of force by Palo Alto officers. [4], Two inmates escaped from custody in San Jose in November 2016. Its a stretch to ask voters to believe that these are all altruistic decisions by the defendants, Percival said. Why he says he's the best-qualified candidate. He said he would also work to break the cycle of fear and intimidation in the jail, where inmates have created a self-governance culture.