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. "My time in the military is a key component. He also supports the establishment of a civilian review board with subpoena power to investigate misconduct allegations. She also supports the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT). Jonsen, 59, a Palo Alto resident, has worked in law enforcement for 36 years. According to testimony from officers who processed the licensing for Sheriff Laurie Smith, most petitions languished in a file drawer without anyone weighing their merits. "I'm 100% in favor of full transparency. Jensen said reform depends on the right leadership. According to Cooks, applications from prosecutors, judges, elected officials, San Jose Sharks players and other VIPs typically came through Capt. Like Glennon, Cooks described a CCW permitting system with no clear rules or set timelines. 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. I had no discretion whether or not somebody were to get a permit. "It's scary. We have made meaningful change. 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 . A high number of mentally ill and the unhoused need more access to social services, education, treatment and housing, she said. It is under investigation by the state Attorney General's Office for possible. He would have a no-tolerance policy for corruption, discrimination or misconduct, including racist, sexist or homophobic speech and actions. 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. The guards were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017. "They immediately applied life-saving measures and applied Narcan to every individual in that household," Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office PIO Sgt. She said she wants to break bread with people so that they will feel they can trust and confide in the deputies when they face hate crimes or other problems in their communities. 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. She's used competitive body building to push herself to new heights. 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. I am exposed to it. "Training matters, and it influences the outcome," he said. After attending high school in Novato, he spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. 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. She would retrain more deputies who are on patrol in these skills and add more mental health services onto PERT teams. Even after a finding of innocence, his arrest haunted him each time he applied for a job, he said. 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. 12K followers. 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Palo Alto Police Department Chief Bob Jonsen. The grand jury transcripts offer some evidence against Smiths closest aide, Undersheriff Rick Sung, who also invoked his Fifth Amendment rights when called to testify. There's already a common practice in law enforcement to switch to a different channel for private conversations. She enlisted in the U.S. Army at 19, became a medic and served five years of active duty. You can't take the Fifth. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith speaks during a news conference May 26. "For 27 years, I worked for a sheriff's organization. Smiths close aide, Capt. 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. Among the apparent beneficiaries of that privilege was County Supervisor Mike Wasserman. The indictment also contends, via seven felony charges against Jensen of falsifying paperwork, that some applicants didnt even have to go to the gun range to show that they knew how to safely use their firearms. 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. When asked about SB 1000, Sen. Josh Becker's bill to limit radio encryption, Jensen expressed caution. Thursday, Judge Eric Geffon. Mayor Sam Liccardos call comes days after two Board of Supervisors members called for an investigation after injuries and deaths at the countys jails. Related Articles Both required discipline and commitment, attributes she said are important to achieve success and to lead. 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. Best coffee city in the world? 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. 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? 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. But convenience was just one of the perks sheriffs aides offered the VIPs. 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 biggest is honesty. San Jose Inside. 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. 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. It came with an implicit message: Pay up, and soon youll be packing heat. Everyone deserves equal protection "regardless of their ZIP code," he said. Is a 2020 Biden and Harris Ticket Good for Cannabis Legalization? Jensen said he would work to build bridges with the community through greater transparency and communication. The sheriff should hold his or herself to the same standards as the public. All rights reserved. Growing up mostly in east San Jose, he used to go to a local church for free food when he was 15 and living with his mother, who misused substances. If you've had an incident, be honest and let me know. Privacy Policy "For 27 years, I worked for a sheriff's organization. My mother-in-law calls me and asks, 'What is best time to go shopping?'" How a really big check unraveled a well-oiled, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, How a really big check unraveled a well-oiled patronage system with Santa Clara County concealed-gun permits, 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. That was the process before I started, Glennon answered. 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. Uploaded: Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 12:04 pm Emergency: 9-1-1; Emergency and Non-Emergency Number from all phones: (408) 299 - 2311; General Information from cellular phone: (408) 808 - 4400 456 following. Mobile site. She would also put a stop to abuses by jail staff of mentally ill inmates. The former UFC heavyweight champion is being held at the Santa Clara County Jail. But a short time later, their cover was blown although it would take months more before the sheriffs office realized it. On a small town road in unincorporated Gilroy on Monday, the deadly opioid crisis reared its head once again. 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. Even after a finding of innocence, his arrest haunted him each time he applied for a job, he said. Voters either looked the other way or people didnt have a lot of knowledge or interest.. He would tell his deputies: "Follow the mission. PR MediaRelease 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. "The California Highway Patrol and LAPD have shown that there are ways to work around the issues that have been brought up. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. The more honest you are, the easier we can approach it. A mother of three, the San Jose resident said she would always "be there for my deputies.". What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? 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. A mother of three, the San Jose resident said she would always "be there for my deputies. Jonsen served as chief with Palo Alto Police Department starting in 2018, following five years as police . The sheriff has come under attack after allegations of abuse and mismanagement in the county's jails. She was born and raised in Miami and is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she studied journalism and environmental science. I would take things to heart and they would get an answer," she said. 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. God knows we need more of it. Jensen. He rose to the rank of captain and held the post of assistant chief in the Department of Correction for two years.While at the sheriff's office, he was the Stanford Department of Public Safety liaison, county jail administration commander, court security division commander and administrative coroner. 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. "Compassion, respect and integrity. All rights reserved. "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. As coordinator of the Antelope Valley Crime Fighting Initiative, his programs reduced crime by 29%, and the initiative received the statewide James Q. Wilson Award for Community Policing in 2010, he said.Jonsen moved north to become Menlo Park's police chief in 2013, and then he became Palo Alto's chief in 2018. 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. Her top brass faces charges of corruption and bribery, and the state attorney general is investigating her office for civil rights violations. By showing our complete transparency, it's going to build trust in the community again. Sign up for our. He would wear the uniform and be out in the community and working alongside his deputies. The DOJ doesn't require blanket encryption and allows for workarounds, but Jonsen did not create any, community critics have said. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith's election in 1998 as California's first female sheriff signaled the end of the good old boys' network, at least as appearances go. Her top brass faces charges of corruption and bribery, and the state attorney general is investigating her office for civil rights violations. Davis said. Allen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. The second public information officer (PIO) to testify took the stand on July 23. It doesn't always need to be a disciplinary approach. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis. 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. I can bring together diverse groups of people. But the biggest driver of CCW applications, by far, according to Glennon, was Capt. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. I also hear that the going rate for a CCW permit expedite fee was $20,000. Why she says she's the best-qualified candidate. The Sheriff holds an elected office, which is voted on by the citizens of the County every four years. This forum recording is the property of the . In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. Previously, Hernandez was a summer intern for The Times in 2021, during which she covered general assignments on the Metro desk. A San Jose native, he graduated from UCLA with a BA degree in history and from the University of Maryland with a MA degree in journalism. The first witness in the civil corruption trial against Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith testified Friday. Jensen is "100% for front-end mental health services" that help keep people safe and out of jail. Rosen has said more charges are coming in the case. Courtesy photos. Jensen also reportedly took private meetings with VIP applicants outside the Sheriffs Office, sometimes at a nearby Starbucks or Jamba Juice on Coleman Avenue. 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. I'm a veteran, a woman and I married a man of color and I'm a LGBTQ ally. 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. "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. Since the establishment of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office, seven officers have died while on duty.[7]. 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. 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. [1] She was convicted in November. 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. This is the official Facebook page for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Jonsen said he would also address lagging recruitment and retention of deputies and staff. (Illustration by Kathy Manlapaz). He didn't let his experience embitter him. SAN JOSE, Calif. - Santa Clara County Sheriff-elect Bob Jonsen will assume his duties one month early after his embattled predecessor abruptly resigned in October. ", RELATED: Researchers are honing in on potential Fentanyl vaccine amid national opioid crisis. 16. Jensen said the county can't incarcerate its way out of its problems, but he supports a new jail with mental health services and a collaborative approach to care by working with other agencies to address the problems that lead to crime and recidivism. 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. "We have to earn it. We spoke with a group of friends at the home who said they were going to visit one of the victims in the hospital. Could you look into that? 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. Already, with conspiracy and bribery indictments of Jensen, attorney and fundraiser Christopher Schumb and two others, the scheme stands as one of the biggest political corruption cases to hit the South Bay in more than four decades. A&E In testifying before Braker some days later, Sgt. It's being mismanaged now because people in command-staff positions are without a degree in finance and economics," she said.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.Website: nagayeforsheriff.comWhy she says she's the best-qualified candidate"I understand the need for community-based, world-class law enforcement. Nagaye said she would invest in much more training and in a training unit. There are other ways to protect confidential information. Wed, Mar 01, 2023 . 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 also make sure that all officers rotate among enforcement and custody positions so they have a well-rounded view of inmates and a broad range of experiences. In alphabetical order, here's what they had to say. 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.". "Your job is never retribution," he said.