Mayor Sam Liccardos call comes days after two Board of Supervisors members called for an investigation after injuries and deaths at the countys jails. These positions are broken down as follows: In addition to the full-time sworn staff, the Sheriff's Office has 65 Reserve Deputy Sheriffs. 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. Currently, the Sheriff's Office has 586 full-time sworn staff. He would have a no-tolerance policy for corruption, discrimination or misconduct, including racist, sexist or homophobic speech and actions. 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. It goes a long way. The Department is divided into four major bureaus Field Operations, Support Services, Jail Operations and Administrative Services. 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. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) engages the whole community in assessing needs and developing strategies to achieve stronger preparedness, prevention, response, and mitigation capabilities within the Santa Clara County Operational Area. 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. "It's so lacking. Related Articles If we don't have a seat at the table, we don't deserve the trust," he said. 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. Since the establishment of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office, seven officers have died while on duty.[7]. Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday I can bring together diverse groups of people. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. 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. Jensen said reform depends on the right leadership. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. Ms. Wadsworth wrote, State law gives sheriffs sole discretion to grant the permits, known as CCWs. He would support deputizing mental health professionals to work in the jails. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. Palo Alto Online I'm the only candidate working the line. He would have a no-tolerance policy for corruption, discrimination or misconduct, including racist, sexist or homophobic speech and actions.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. I can bring together diverse groups of people. 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. Mountain View City Council kicks off process of identifying priority projects for next two years. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Listen to each of them answer questions from the public. Jonsen said he would also address lagging recruitment and retention of deputies and staff. The fifth candidate, Ahn Colton, 48, lists herself as a mother. Provide setup and assist runners at Santa Cruz Island Eco Half Marathon, a race organized to raise funds for the Sheriff's Search and Rescue charity (October 2011-Present) Licenses & Certifications Whether or not by design, the system manufactured scarcity. This is the official Facebook page for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. She supports appointing a civilian watchdog to audit law-enforcement practices and management. GILROY, Calif. (KGO) -- The fentanyl crisis continues to claim the lives of those who are using the dangerous drug, and leaders in the South Bay want to stop overdoses at the source after three men were found dead from suspected fentanyl use. Previously, Hernandez was a summer intern for The Times in 2021, during which she covered general assignments on the Metro desk. Thursday, Judge Eric Geffon. Jensen is "100% for front-end mental health services" that help keep people safe and out of jail. 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. A&E 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). The guards were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017. Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox. 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. 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. It was the first prosecutors had heard of it, and they dug in. 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.Website: seanallenforsheriff.comWhy he says he's the best-qualified candidateAllen 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. 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). "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. Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? Bob Jonsen A track record as a leader, but not without his critics. Kevin Jensen said during a recent interview, prefacing his own of a tough upbringing. Jensen also reportedly took private meetings with VIP applicants outside the Sheriffs Office, sometimes at a nearby Starbucks or Jamba Juice on Coleman Avenue. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In alphabetical order, here's what they had to say. 456 following. (Illustration by Kathy Manlapaz). 2,995 were here. 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. If the board of supervisors says 'Why are you doing this?' 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. He would basically bring me the applications that she had approved to move forward, Glennon testified. As the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office remains embroiled in controversy over alleged corruption and mismanagement, five candidates vying for Sheriff Laurie Smith's seat will be tasked with proving they can restore public confidence in the law enforcement agency. But convenience was just one of the perks sheriffs aides offered the VIPs. Who better to have in place to find where this money is going? Embarcadero Media file photo by Magali Gauthier. Did you come up with that explanation on your own or is that something that Capt. Jensen worked in the sheriff's office for more than 29 years, retiring in 2013. Would you do a Live Scan? Braker asked, referring to a background check software. "They immediately applied life-saving measures and applied Narcan to every individual in that household," Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office PIO Sgt. Allen wants employees with integrity, commitment, objectivity and who are problem solvers. 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. Richard Glennon. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live, A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? 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. Did they just go in the filing cabinet?, They went to the filing cabinet and stayed there.. It became his lifelong career, taking him through nearly every opportunity the profession had to offer, he said.Jensen, 58, is a repeat candidate for Santa Clara County sheriff, having previously fought for the seat in the 2014 election against incumbent Smith.Jensen worked in the sheriff's office for more than 29 years, retiring in 2013. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. Print Edition/Archives The more honest you are, the easier we can approach it. "I'm 100% in favor of full transparency. "I have a proven record for establishing strong community policing programs and developing strategic solutions," 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. He would be going to a lot of the lunches. Instead, he chose a career in law enforcement so he could institute reforms while keeping the public safe, he said. Smith said during a news conference that an in-depth review is necessary to get the true facts.. After attending high school in Novato, he spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. She could not be reached for an interview. I'm a veteran, a woman and I married a man of color and I'm a LGBTQ ally. 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. "Law enforcement has always had a problem with that. Other agencies use cellphones, Nextel, or computers," he said.Communities of colorAllen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. When asked who was the driving force in processing CCWs, former PIO Richard Glennon testified, Captain Jensen by far. But Glennons clear understanding was that Jensen was acting at Smiths behest. 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. RELATED: Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? 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. In late 2012, he served as the initiative's statewide risk-program manager. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office | San Jose CA You have to stand up to the standards to which you took an oath," he said.He also supports the establishment of a civilian review board with subpoena power to investigate misconduct allegations.Encryption of police-scanner communicationsWhen 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. Leading with integrity is the biggest thing. At that point, in accordance with California law, its ultimately up to the sheriff in each jurisdiction to decide whether to grant it. An arraignment for the five defendants is scheduled for 9am Monday at the Santa Clara County Superior Court Hall of Justice. She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency that serves Santa Clara County, California.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. 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 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. I understand the complexities," he said. If you've had an incident, be honest and let me know. He has been married to mixed-race women who were from white, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds. They don't want someone peeking behind the curtain," he said. I would take things to heart and they would get an answer," she said.Nagaye said she would also be transparent with the media and would be responsive when the media comes to an event. The Sheriff's Office has been dogged by allegations of corruption. Based upon recent changes to the law and changes to standards and practices promulgated by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, the Sheriff's Office has been undergoing a comprehensive revision of its Law Enforcement and Custodial General Orders and the Sheriff's Policy Manual. He said thats how his predecessor, James Jensen, taught him to do it. James Jensen, attorneys Harpaul Nahal and Christopher Schumb and gun dealer Michael Nichols go to trial on Nov. 2. A job prospect led him to San Jose, where his wife spotted a recruitment sign for deputy sheriffs. Part of that effort comes in finding out how these men got the fentanyl in the first place. She also supports the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT). Christine Nagaye A reformer who supports 'full transparency'. Updated: Jan 14, 2022 / 10:59 PM PST. 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. Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. Santa Clara County has paid out at least $20 million in settlements for the serious injury and deaths of mentally ill inmates under Sheriff Smith. 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. Under Smith, deputies murdered a mentally ill inmate, and others in custody have been injured, costing the county millions of dollars in settlements. 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. Why she says she's the best-qualified candidate. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith speaks during a news conference May 26. 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. The more honest you are, the easier we can approach it. And yet, Dr. Sussman says they are dying from drugs more than ever before. It's embarrassing, everything that has come out in the past 3 to 15 years," she said.She would also put a stop to abuses by jail staff of mentally ill inmates. 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. Santa Clara County leaders on the Fentanyl Working Group, like Santa Clara County Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine's Dr. Rachel Sussman, agrees, especially when it comes to youth drug use. 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. "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. 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. "The earliest memory I have is of people bringing food," he said. A lawyer-turned-lawman, Glennon handled CCW petitions from 2016 to 2019 as a member of Sheriff Laurie Smiths communications team. "Management is the first place you have to start to change the culture," Allen said. 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. "It's so lacking. 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. Sign up for our. When elected, I will end this policy within the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office," she said. "Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. 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. He said Smiths alleged mismanagement as the longest-serving elected sheriff in Santa Clara County has destroyed lives and violated the most basic of civil rights of inmates and created a dystopian place of horrible suffering., Smith did not directly address Liccardos call for her resignation, but when asked whether she intended to step down, she said, At this time, no.. "Just because I'm an elected official doesn't mean I don't have to follow the rules. Jonsen moved north to become Menlo Park's police chief in 2013, and then he became Palo Alto's chief in 2018. "A lot of people are duck-and-cover and think they have to be blindly loyal to get ahead," he said. Jensen. Back-room beatings make people afraid to go against the shot-callers, he said. The second public information officer (PIO) to testify took the stand on July 23. Whether on the street or in the jail, officers need to act with integrity, Jensen said. Jensen, Schumb, and co-defendants Harpaul Nahal and Michael Nichols are scheduled to appear in court Monday to continue their arraignment proceedings in the case. Checking all three boxes gets a permit seeker to the next stage, a background check. When he took the job, there was no formal training on how to handle the applications, so he followed the process inherited by Glennon. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, Officials admit being unprepared for epic mountain blizzard, leaving many trapped and desperate, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 15 arrested across L.A. County in crackdown on fraudulent benefit cards, This is me, this is my face: Actress Mimi Rogers on aging naturally, without cosmetic surgery, San Jose mayor says Santa Clara County sheriff should resign: Corruption or incompetence, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. 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. [2], On August 27, 2015, mentally-ill inmate Michael Tyree was beaten to death[3] by three jail guards. "Custody has one budget and enforcement has another. 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.He said that the sheriff's office should still run the jail, but he is willing to listen to members of the Board of Supervisors who think it should go back to the way it was before Smith took control. 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. [4], Two inmates escaped from custody in San Jose in November 2016. He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. When Palo Alto had 13 vacancies, they were quickly filled when officers were given enhanced opportunities and there were more chances to grow professionally, he said. The sheriff should hold his or herself to the same standards as the public. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. Office of the Sheriff. The Starbucks on Coleman Avenue and Taylor Street in San Jose, a five-minute drive from sheriffs headquarters, was practically a satellite office for preferred gun permits, although one meeting, involving the alleged deal at the heart of the current indictment, happened on outdoor tables at the Jamba Juice next door the Starbucks was closed. County of Santa Clara. Mobile site. "I have a proven record for establishing strong community policing programs and developing strategic solutions," he said. Uploaded: Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 12:04 pm 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. 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. 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. "Allen said he would be a hands-on sheriff. Despite the city's settlements for excessive force by his department, Jonsen noted that the city paid out less than $1 million compared to the county, which has paid more than $20 million. I represent the diversity of Santa Clara County. "Your job is never retribution," he said. Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Mountain View Online 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. Her position was if she had the application but never started the background, she was within the Penal Code, he said. Thinking you can't be held accountable is narcissistic. Before arriving in California, she was an investigative/enterprise reporter for Fresh Take Florida, a news service offered by UF. A look inside San Jose politics and culture. Calls friendship with Christopher Schumb a fatal conflict that cannot be ignored and impediment to fair trial.
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