Kevin Jensen said during a recent interview, prefacing his own of a tough upbringing.A self-described "trailer-trash kid," he lived in the city of Fontana, a high-crime area then derogatorily called "Felony Flats. As the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office remains embroiled in controversy, five candidates vying for Sheriff Laurie Smith's seat will be tasked with proving they can restore public confidence in the law enforcement agency. "In the sheriff's office, I was referred to as OJ Simpson," he said. SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- The polls may be closed . The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency that serves Santa Clara County, California. As sheriff, he would advocate for additional funding for mental health programs to help de-escalate crisis encounters. 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. 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. 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. There he handed over a $45,000 check made out to the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance, a pro-Smith independent expenditure committee whose finances were co-managed by Schumb. 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. "It angers me. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children. "The California Highway Patrol and LAPD have shown that there are ways to work around the issues that have been brought up. Before arriving in California, she was an investigative/enterprise reporter for Fresh Take Florida, a news service offered by UF. 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. "The earliest memory I have is of people bringing food," he said.He was later raised in San Francisco after his mother remarried a "functional alcoholic. She would provide social workers and inmate education to help address issues that cause recidivism.There's also a need to get more money for social services, she said. "They immediately applied life-saving measures and applied Narcan to every individual in that household," Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office PIO Sgt. A lawyer-turned-lawman, Glennon handled CCW petitions from 2016 to 2019 as a member of Sheriff Laurie Smiths communications team. 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. There are other ways to protect confidential information. That's why I'm great for this position. "Custody has one budget and enforcement has another. Russell Davis said. Can we please prosecute these people? 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. 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. Follow. Why he says he's the best-qualified candidate. Courtesy Bob Jonsen. Listen to each of them answer questions from the public. A high number of mentally ill and the unhoused need more access to social services, education, treatment and housing, she said. Jonsen pointed to his years of experience as a chief and leader of law enforcement organizations that depend on professional experience to thrive. (Illustration by Kathy Manlapaz). He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. Because thats just the way things worked, Cooks said he didnt think much about it. 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. 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.Jail reform and use of forceDespite 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. She enlisted in the U.S. Army at 19, became a medic and served five years of active duty. 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. Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? "I know where the bad apples are. Under Smith, deputies murdered a mentally ill inmate, and others in custody have been injured, costing the county millions of dollars in settlements. Most are honest and do have integrity. To be honest, Low told Braker, I was new. Even if force is used, I have high expectations that my officers know the laws," he said. 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. San Jose, CA 95110. 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. 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 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. Why she says she's the best-qualified candidate. 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 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. 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? She was born and raised in Miami and is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she studied journalism and environmental science. When asked about SB 1000, Sen. Josh Becker's bill to limit radio encryption, Jensen expressed caution. Leading with integrity is the biggest thing. 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. Crime and Public Safety | Wed, Mar 01, 2023 . That was the explanation they were providing., But did you ever get to it? Braker continued. The state Attorney General's Office cleared Christopher Schumb of two felony charges Monday morning, citing lack of evidence. "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. He is a former Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association board member and a lifelong martial artist and instructor. Phone: (408) 299-7500. I also hear that the going rate for a CCW permit expedite fee was $20,000. Feds drop felony gun case days after defense argued SFPD illegally arrested, searched defendant 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. 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. He is a former president of the California Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates.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.Website: kevinjensen4sheriff.comWhy he says he's the best-qualified candidate"I've done about every job you can do. They are obviously at best negligent, at worst corrupt. Her previous work can be found in the Associated Press, U.S. News and World Report, Chicago Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle. Help sustain the local news you depend on. Checking all three boxes gets a permit seeker to the next stage, a background check. Sean Allen He's experienced both sides of law enforcement. If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. Linda Wallace testified that she was secretary in the sheriff's office. The grand jury convened July 20 of this year and handed down its indictments Aug. 6. Embarcadero Media 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. A mother of three, the San Jose resident said she would always "be there for my deputies.". He would also work to build trust in the community between deputies and residents so they will feel more comfortable reporting crimes. That was the process before I started, Glennon answered. 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 . Menu. Her top brass faces charges of corruption and bribery, and the state attorney general is investigating her office for civil rights violations. 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 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. She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. Kevin Jensen A well-rounded retiree who wants to rebuild trust. Thinking you can't be held accountable is narcissistic. Calls friendship with Christopher Schumb a fatal conflict that cannot be ignored and impediment to fair trial. 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. In Santa Clara County, however, it seems the vast majority of applicants never got a chance to take those prerequisite steps. Embarcadero Media file photo by Magali Gauthier. He has been an independent consultant since his retirement and has taught new recruits and law-enforcement managers. He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. "We sent detectives and crime scene investigators to the residence to conduct a full and thorough investigation," Sgt. Peter Karasav, 35, was arrested in the 600 block of Potomac Court morning of March 2 and investigators said they found explosive materials and possible narcotics activity at a home there. 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.. A week later, the DAs office served search warrants at the sheriffs headquarters. 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. He supports more mental health care facilities for inmates with psychiatric conditions. On Aug. 31, on the first arraignment date for the case. She would hold instructors accountable for the end results if employees are not properly trained, she said.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. She also supports the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT). She could not be reached for an interview. "Jensen said he grew up in a dysfunctional household with a troubled father who ended up incarcerated. Grand jurors were told that Jensen said in an interview with a DA investigator that it was Sung who told him to direct the first $45,000 to Schumb. As sheriff, he would work to instill a culture and ethic that is "beyond a warrior mentality." 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. 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 . He rose to the rank of captain and held the post of assistant chief in the Department of Correction for two years. https://www.sccgov.org/sites/sheriff/Pages/ccw.aspx: The Sheriff may issue a license to any person residing within Santa Clara County. I'm not above anything. 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. I'm the only candidate working the line. 26205 requires sheriffs to process CCW petitions within 90 days of receiving them or a month after clearing a backgroundwhichever comes later. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. "It's scary. 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. Both required discipline and commitment, attributes she said are important to achieve success and to lead. Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. 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 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. Sign up for our. A sheriff's captain was among four people indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges as part of an election campaign scandal tied to Santa Clara County Sheriff. We spoke with a group of friends at the home who said they were going to visit one of the victims in the hospital. "It's scary. 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. Shes an avid lover of golden retrievers and Rocky Road ice cream. 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. 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. 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. Both required discipline and commitment, attributes she said are important to achieve success and to lead.Nagaye, 50, has been with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for 20 years and has been a supervising sergeant for six years. We can do training and have verbal discussions. [1] She was convicted in November. The false arrest "gave me the determination to become a law enforcement officer who is fair, just and treats everyone I encounter equally.". We're not adequately trained to provide long-term care for people," he said. Capt. SantaClaraCoSheriff Retweeted Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Mountain View Online "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. Sean Allen He's experienced both sides of law enforcementWhen 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. "Jail reform and use of forceNagaye supports having a civilian watchdog to audit law enforcement practices and the management of the county jails. 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. San Jose Mayor Liccardo's Home Vandalized Amid Friday Protests. "I'm 100% in favor of full transparency. 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. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office | San Jose CA All rights reserved. Were going to do these investigations, Smith said. 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. Hm, a virtual interview from the Hawaiian Islands is being scheduled???? 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. He was later raised in San Francisco after his mother remarried a "functional alcoholic.". Lets see what the truth is.. My mother-in-law calls me and asks, 'What is best time to go shopping?'" I have nothing to hide. (Questions and website comments) Service Units Directory. Fax: (408) 286-5437. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Courtesy Nagaye for Sheriff campaign. RELATED: Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? A short time later, the sheriffs office gave Sanders a valuable privilege under Californias tough firearms laws: the right to carry it as a concealed weapon. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. Uploaded: Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 12:04 pm You said backlog, we will get to it, but did that, in reality, ever happen? 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. We have made meaningful change. That was on top of Jensens unofficial duties. Santa Clara County: Who can build trust? There have been twenty-eight persons serving in the capacity of Sheriff since 1850. 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. 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. For example, when he worked on the Polly Klaas murder case, Jensen said he needed to have self-control. Did they just go in the filing cabinet?, They went to the filing cabinet and stayed there.. If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. Again going by Jensens instructions, he said hed typically blame the delays on something out of his control. "Don't be afraid to bring someone else in," she said, to help de-escalate or assess the situation. San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com) In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. 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. Home & Real Estate 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. Russell Davis said. Now THAT would be a real investigative story. In a unique alliance, Paula Canny an attorney who represented the families of Hogan and Michael Tyree, an inmate who was beaten to death by three correctional deputies in 2018, in litigation against the Sheriffs Office and the county supported Smith. Nagaye's husband is of Japanese ancestry and they have biracial daughters. "Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. The trial against Smith stems . 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. In his testimony to the grand jury, Wasserman insisted he simply didnt remember how he fulfilled the firearms safety requirement to carry two concealed pistols. 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. Promotions, About Us The fifth candidate, Ahn Colton, 48, lists herself as a mother. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis.