The culture of management can no longer be one of fear and intimidation.. ", #Breaking Four people including SantaClara Co Sheriffs Captain indicted in concealed carry pay to play scheme MORE @nbcbayarea. "I know they used a lot of that money on social media, slamming me," he said. If you care about your Constitutional rights, vote for the person who UNDERSTANDS and actually WILL uphold the US Constitution and your unalienable rights! An experienced set of fresh eyes is going to help pave the way toward putting an appropriate spotlight on transparency, and building trust within the community, Elder said. Our jail is among the 100 systems nationwide with an inmate population of more than 1,000. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriff's. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Santa Clara County is getting a new sheriff for the first time in more than two decades, following Laurie Smiths decision to not run for a seventh term. Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. Jensen said he is also proud to have the support of former county Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. 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She needs to leave and take the stench shes created with her. West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of, 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, West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of sheriff offices West Valley division. Allen says he stands out from his opponents because hes spent much of his career openly criticizing the office. We know hes the best candidate to address these issues (in the office).. Sources close to the case tell the ABC7 News I-Team that the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Amy Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. The second half of the agreed-upon donation amount wasstymied by the DA investigation, authorities said. The ABC7 News I-Team asked Le to provide a comment but she declined. At a Cupertino City Council meeting on Aug. 2, Ken Binder, former division commander, introduced Urena and described him as an experienced officer, ready for the new role. Ive worked at other places with the Sheriffs Office here and there but I just like the community here, and I like the fact theres more community outreach that we do on this side, Valenzuela said. Take a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team. August 10, 2016 at 12:02 p.m. Schumb is a prominent political backer of the Sheriff and served as Assistant Treasurer for the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance, an independent expenditure committee that supported Smith's election bid. Allen has received endorsements fromReverend Jeff Moore, former president of the Silicon Valley NAACP, and several retired sheriff employees. Captain James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal, and business owner Michael Nichols are accused of conspiring with the CEO and a middle manager of AS Solution, Inc., an international security company, to offer a $90,000 bribe to obtain concealed firearms permits (CCW licenses) for the company's executive protection agents. End of an era: San Jose antique shops could disappear, Robes, candles and chants: South Bay official in hot water over religious ceremony, Proposed tax law threatens billions in San Jose funding. Jensen has also received endorsements from retired county supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley, Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran and former sheriff Robert Winter. Nagaye, 51, has served in the Sheriffs Office for 20 years, with the last seven as a supervising sergeant. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. The race is between two candidates: Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Christine Nagaye wants to transform theoffice into a national role model. "I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic, cautiously. 1:45 p.m. California law requires candidates for county sheriff to have experience as certified law enforcement officers. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. In 2017, she received $449,767.49 with overtime and benefits, on a $142,530.12 base salary. Essentially, just be out there for the community to ask us questions and get suggestions from the community about where the problems are, he added. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. Comment Policy (updated 11/1/2021): We reserve the right to delete comments or ban users who engage in personal attacks, hate speech, excess profanity or make verifiably false statements. How safe is your neighborhood? Like his opponents, Jensen said hes concerned about the lack of transparency in the office, which he blames on Smiths managerial style. To avoid the perception of impropriety, Jensen said he wont take any financial contributions from employees. Allen, 51, has mostly worked in the jail system. A California sheriff was suspended after she had inmates at a jail in Santa Clara county make her a BBQ for a break space used by corrections staff, a report said Tuesday. The Constitution for the United States of America and its capstone iBill of Rights is the Law of the Land; and all statutes and state constitutions repugnant to the Constitution for the United States of America are null and void. Jensen later instructed AS Solutions Inc. to have their executive protection agents falsify the names of their employer on their CCW applications, and for those agents living outside the county, to falsify their addresses as well, according to the indictment. My intent is to change not only whats happening at the top of the organization, but some of whos at the top of the organization, Allen told San Jos Spotlight. Capt. Moreover, he doesnt have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. He previously served as a board member of the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association and is founder of Lodge 65 of the Fraternal Order of Police in California. Instead, it will be tossed in a filing cabinet and forgotten. But the sheriff position is not just any typical management job. Jensen's attorney Harry S. Stern released the following statement to ABC7 News: James is devastated by this development. Hirokawa said Jensen's quick rise to captain after Smith's re-election raised eyebrows in the office at the time. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? ALL RIGHT K J!!!!! He became captain in 2004 and retired in 2013. Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain, a gun parts manufacturer, and two local lawyers - one a prominent political backer - have been indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and. Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. Besides sketching out the donation-for-permits plan, he surreptitiously recorded a conversation with Jensen using a DA-provided phone app, at a meeting just days before the corruption probe became public knowledge when search warrants were served at the sheriffs office. Donors accounted for fewer than 4% of all CCW applicants over that time period, but constituted about 35% of those awarded permits, according to the records. James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal and business owner Michael Nichols allegedly conspired with the CEO and a middle manager of an international security company to offer a $90,000 bribe in exchange for concealed weapons permits, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Colton is a latecomer to the race, having filed her nomination papers in March. The morale will get better, then the whole department, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. Between 2014 and 2018, 749 Santa Clara County residents applied for a new CCW permit, according to records provided by the sheriffs department. Moreover, he doesn't have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. Capt. Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? And were here to provide it. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. The I-Team also reached out to Reggie Cooks, a public affairs officer for the sheriff's department, and he has not responded at the time this story was reported. Santa Clara County Sheriff candidates Kevin Jensen and Bob Jonsen. He plans to implement greater civilian oversight in the jail systeman outstanding concern among county officials. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. Local News | Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Its not clear if Colton qualifies for sheriff. There may have been policies or procedures broken with regard to that project, but there must be more to the story," said Retired Undersheriff and Chief of Correction, John Hirokawa who in the past oversaw the jails. Rosen said the office has been cleared of any conflict by the state Office of the Attorney General, which will represent the DAs office in the motion hearing. Nagayes major endorsement is from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, and she says she has strong support among deputies and residents. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. She resigned as sheriff on . So he is also a liar. The transcripts also contain testimony from three former and current sheriffs public information officers outlining a haphazard process with inconsistent criteria on who got the rarely-issued weapons permits. A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain, a gun parts manufacturer, and two local lawyers - one a prominent political backer - have been indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges. The recently released autopsy report of Thomas Phan, a 40-year-old homeless man shot and killed by deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on Nov. 16, provided new details . She also served in the offices operational standards and inspections unit and worked at both Elmwood and the main jail. "If she's doing something that's unfair and unjust, she owes it to this community to step down," said Moore. The non-donor approval rate plummets even further for applicants who most would consider average citizens. Among the 40 non-donors to be granted concealed gun permits between 2014 and 2018 are three sitting judges, two current members of the San Jose Sharks hockey team, at least one employee of the sheriffs office, and five people who appear to be Santa Clara County reserve deputies. A veteran staff trainer, Allen wants to change how officers apply use of force, saying there need to be more alternatives for de-escalating situations and preventing harm to inmates. "They should not be for sale. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. Prior to being elected as the 29th Sheriff of Santa Clara County, he was the Chief of Police for Palo Alto Police Department (2018-2022). By comparison, Sacramento County has more than 5,000 active permits. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. That is what we are doing here.. Office Hours. Rosen said there were two paths when it came to the issuing of concealed gun permits by the sheriff's office: One for average citizens and one for campaign donors and VIPs. 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. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. Thankfully, SJS usually gives the names of those who voted against a proposal. Im the only candidate who has experience from a large sheriff organization as well as municipalities, and that diversity will serve me well, Jonsen told San Jos Spotlight, adding that his great-great uncle served as sheriff in Santa Clara County in 1870. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Allen was firm, fair and integrity was not an issue. Amy Le, who led the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association (CPOA) and went to bat for Sheriff Laurie Smith in her last election, was served a letter charging her with wrongdoing, stripped of her badge and escorted off the job Friday. The next sheriff will havesignificant challenges, including the ongoing warehousing of mentally ill inmates in the jail system, increased political scrutiny of the Sheriffs Office and the constructionof a new jail. Jonsen, 59, spent the last four years working as police chief in Palo Alto. She is also facing a civil grand jury accusation for corrupt misconduct and a state attorney general investigation into possible civil rights violations in the county jail. NBC Bay Area called or emailed each of the four defendants in the case Friday, but so far, only Jensen's attorney has responded. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. Sheriff spokesman Sgt. So I can ask them about the SJ Search and Rescue team and how we can support the new sherriff. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. Nielsen testified at a grand jury hearing July 21 that he and West met with sheriff officials and discussed offering donations and other payments with the hopes of getting bulk CCW applications approved. Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. We are a bit troubled by the words overwhelmingly and unanimously (and others) when it comes to any voting. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. "The DA's office is continuing to investigate more crimes and more individuals related to Sheriff Smith's issuance of CCW licenses. Nagaye opposes the creation of a new jail, although she does support the creation of a new mental health facility to better meet the needs of mentally ill inmates. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. Hannah Kanik is a Bay Area News Group reporter covering Santa Clara County's West Valley for The Mercury News, East Bay Times, The Los Gatos Weekly and The Saratoga News. | All donations are tax-deductible. Your email address will not be published. Smiths office granted concealed gun permits to 22 of those 28 applicants, an approval rate of about 79%. Hope Now we get a real sherriff elected. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) A retired captain for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is joining the race to become the next sheriff, now the second opponent looking to unseat current. Public Safety Alliance ("PSA"), an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. "But then when it came time to renew, I was not allowed to renew and those reasons were never explained to me phone calls were not returned," explained Moore. As the I-Team reported last September, the man suffered brain damage and his parents are suing the county and the Sheriff's Department. When I got my prints taken here, it was my third fingerprinting in probably ten months, as all my jobs involve(d) either working with minors or with school districts that serve minors. An inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation -- which was reported in public filings -- spurred the DA to start an investigation shortly after the general election in 2018. And if she feels that If the Sheriff lacks a full understanding of the Constitution it would stand to reason that he is vulnerable to violation of his oath. The other three members of her command staff including former Mountain View . San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. Robert was a member of the Bay Area News Group reporting team awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for East Bay Times coverage of the fatal "Ghost Ship" fire. He supports the Board of Supervisors decision to build a new 500-person jail, and he favors adding more mental health resources for inmates. In court Monday, he asked Judge Eric Geffon to re-seal the grand jury transcripts on the grounds that his clients trial rights will be prejudiced by their release.. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer Charged with Gun Permit Bribery Scheme. In the 20 years that Neil Valenzuela has worked for the Sheriffs Office, he keeps coming back to Saratoga. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Jonsen couldnt even run Palo Alto PD. Election 2022 candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff: retired Palo Alto police chief Bob Jonsen (left) and retired sheriff's captain Kevin Jensen. Jensen advised Nielsen to instruct AS Solution employees who were not residents of Santa Clara County to use local corporate addresses as their residence addresses in their applications. ", According to the indictment, the alleged criminal activity began in April 2018 with a text from Nichols to attorney Harpaul Nahal, saying, "I need you to meet my buddy that runs the Facebook Executive protection team, followed by: its a potential $50K. In addition to bribery, the indictment accuses Jensen of conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. Len Ramirez and Kiet Do contributed to this story. A retired Santa Clara County sheriff's captain who ran for office in 2014 and lost, Kevin Jensen believes he has the momentum to take the seat. Allen also wants to address the homophobia and racial inequitieshe sees in the office. Jensen said hes concerned about the large number of mentally ill inmates in the jail system, butbelieves those with violent offenses need to be incarcerated. Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. Schumbs attorney Joe Wall also filed a motion to remove the DAs office from the case, citing that Schumb has been a friend and fundraiser for District Attorney Jeff Rosen. This is the organizations third time endorsing an opponent of incumbent Laurie Smith, who has served as head of the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office since 1998. He wants to prioritize building morale in the office, which he said has been low for many years, and to rebuild relationships with the San Jose Police Departmenthe claims Smith neglected. To be fair, all candidates seem passionate about wanting to a good job as sheriff and the questions asked are valid questions for any managerial jobs. This is my favorite place to work. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Capt. The complete transcript of the grand jury's findings will be released in the coming weeks. The state attorney general is investigating possible civil rights violations in the jail system, and Smith is fighting a political corruption accusation brought by a civil grand jury that claims she granted concealed firearm licenses to political supporters. He cited a internal solutions group he helped create inPalo Alto to address issues like morale and promotions. Le has been one of the most well-paid Santa Clara County employees for years. 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