Santa Clara County sheriff-elect Bob Jonsen will take office early San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. I will let people know this department is going to be run based on performance and rewards for performance.. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain Among 4 Indicted In DA's She has spent months fending off attacks from the Board of Supervisors, which voted no confidence in her leadership. CBS. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. 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.. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), 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 on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. In the 20 years that Neil Valenzuela has worked for the Sheriffs Office, he keeps coming back to Saratoga. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations," Rosen said. The public information officers sergeants Richard Glennon, Reginald Cooks and Michael Low also testified that Jensen was still heavily involved in shepherding the CCW application process despite being promoted out of the PIO office, in a rapid ascendance from sergeant to lieutenant and then captain in just a few years. So I can ask them about the SJ Search and Rescue team and how we can support the new sherriff. 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. "On August 7, 2020, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office publicly announced that Captain James Jensen has been formally charged with felony bribery, conspiracy and falsifying public documents by a Grand Jury.". "It's a sad day for the Sheriff's department," said retired Undersheriff John Hirokawa, who was defeated in a runoff by Sheriff Smith in the election that year and wonders what role the money played. 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. He cited a internal solutions group he helped create inPalo Alto to address issues like morale and promotions. The second half of the agreed-upon donation amount wasstymied by the DA investigation, authorities said. Investigative Services - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. 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. Jensen has picked up support from the main unions serving jail employees: the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association. 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. "I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic, cautiously. Long, who created a blog to document the CCW process in Santa Clara County, said he was unsurprised by the indictments. 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Santa Clara County Sheriff Race - NBC Bay Area A gun parts manufacturer and two South Bay lawyers were the other three individuals named in the indictment. This is your newsroom. Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung Indicted; New Indictment For We were all stuck at home for COVID, and we didnt have really any kind of property crime because everyone was home. The Civil Warrants Division serves Civil process in the manner prescribed by law. If convicted, the defendants could receive prison time. 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. So he is also a liar. Allowing her team to continually bully and brutalize mentally challenged inmates is disgusting. 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. Between 2014 and 2019, only about 150 permits were issued or renewed in Santa Clara County. The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. Its not clear if Colton qualifies for sheriff. A former manager for a security company who implicated a Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain and others in an alleged bribery scheme to trade political donations supporting the sheriff in exchange for concealed-carry weapons has testified in the civil corruption trial . 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. None of the PIOs who testified could recall an instance where they personally witnessed Smith signing an approved permit, according to the transcripts. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. Office Hours. Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. To avoid the perception of impropriety, Jensen said he wont take any financial contributions from employees. According to the transcripts, Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker asked Montonye, (Jensen) said that Sung was the individual who brought Martin Nielsen to his attention? to which the investigator replied, Correct. Montonye also testified that Jensen said he was directed by Sung to give the money tell him to give the money to Schumb.. 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. Custody Division - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara 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. If the Sheriff lacks a full understanding of the Constitution it would stand to reason that he is vulnerable to violation of his oath. . Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? Prosecutors allege that Nielsen and West were connected to Jensen by Schumb, Nahal and Nichols to get $90,000 split between the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance whose assistant treasurer was Schumb, a veteran South Bay litigator and the Sheriffs Advisory Board. Earlier this year, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit analyzed five years' worth of data and found that donors to Smith's political campaigns were about 14 times more likely to get a concealed weapons permit than those who did not contribute. Nichols, CEO of The Gun Co. based in Milpitas, reportedly knew Nielsen as a buddy, and eventually worked with Nahal and Schumb to get the alleged quid pro quo in motion. 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As the I-Team reported last September, the man suffered brain damage and his parents are suing the county and the Sheriff's Department. Saratoga installed an Automatic License Plate Reader system at several intersections last spring to track cars coming in and out of the city and deter crime. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. She is a San Jose State University alumna and enjoys hiking and camping in her spare time. Hiscampaign filings do not reflect a total amount raised to date, but the candidate himself says hes raised about $50,000. As of January, shes raised $8,400. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. NBC Bay Area called or emailed each of the four defendants in the case Friday, but so far, only Jensen's attorney has responded. Law Enforcement. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. The side of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office vehicle is pictured in this file photo. We know hes the best candidate to address these issues (in the office).. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. Capt. My unique experience speaks for myself. Jensen is competing with three other candidates: sheriff Sgt. As a lieutenant, Le was the first female president of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Correctional Peace Officers Association, and steered the union's endorsement to Sheriff Laurie Smith this past election. Jonsen said he has experience overseeing crime reduction from his time as a coordinator of the Antelope Valley crime fighting initiative run by the LA Sheriffs Department. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. Emergency: 9-1-1; Emergency and Non-Emergency Number from all phones: (408) 299 - 2311; General Information from cellular phone: (408) 808 - 4400 MILPITAS, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain Amy Le got walked off the job at Elmwood Jail this past Friday in tears, her badge and county vehicle taken away. The sheriff's race: What they'd do if elected | News | Palo Alto Online Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . Laurie Smith - Wikipedia As NBC Bay Area first reported more than a week ago, a criminal grand jury has been looking into allegations of "pay to play" for concealed gun permits in the South Bay. James Jensen, Christopher Schumb, Harpaul Nahal and Michael Nichols were indicted in the alleged pay-to-play plot, in which they are accused of brokering a deal for the executive security firm AS Solution to receive up to a dozen concealed-carry weapon permits in exchange for $90,000 in campaign donations to committees supporting Smiths 2018 re-election bid. Election 2022: The race for Santa Clara County sheriff 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 . Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Capt. Rosen said his office's probe was triggered by a San Jose Inside article focusing on a large 2018 contribution to Smith's campaign. He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. Santa Clara County Corrections Capt. Amy Le Put on Paid Leave They should not be for sale.". 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. Kevin Jensen, a retired captain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, is running to replace Laurie Smith. All of these people do not feel safe, and they feel threatened, Nagaye told San Jos Spotlight. Santa Clara County sheriff's captain among 4 indicted on felony bribery Take a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team. The DA's investigation began shortly after the general election in 2018, sparked by an inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation, which was reported in public filings. The second half of the payment was forestalled by the DA investigation. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. Thankfully, SJS usually gives the names of those who voted against a proposal. | All donations are tax-deductible. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. West Valley Detectives. He spent the bulk of his career27 yearsin the LA County Sheriffs Department, retiring as captain of Lancaster Station. 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. The race is between two candidates: Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriff's. Allen says he stands out from his opponents because hes spent much of his career openly criticizing the office. When it comes to enforcing the law, which is to say enforcing the Constitution for the United States of America, the Sheriff, being the Chief Law Enforcement Officer, answers to We the People The County Sheriff is a Constitutional Officer elected by the People and bound by oath as guardian of the Peoples unalienable rights secured by the Constitution. The exact terms of the deal were hammered out later that month, according to the indictment, when Nielsen and West met with Jensen, Nahal, and Nichols at a San Jose Jamba Juice and agreed upon an exchange of 10-to-12 CCW licenses for a $90,000 donation to Smith's campaign. 38 reviews of Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department "Thankfully, my only experience with the Santa Clara County Sheriffs has been getting fingerprinted at this station in San Jose. Before that, he was chief of police in Menlo Park for five years. . He said after Friday's news, Sheriff Smith needs to go. 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. 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. Hiscampaign filings dont reflect a total amount raised to date, but Allen said hesraised $21,000. Allen said in his first 100 days in office he wants to meet with every politician in the county and glean ideas about how to improve his office. Detectives pursue all cases to conclusion from reports generated by patrol deputies, except those cases dealing with homicide, sex, or narcotics, which are . | All donations are tax-deductible. While a captain, he was assigned to oversee various Custody Bureau Divisions, including the Main Jail, Elmwood, Jail Reforms, Support Services, and Administrative Services, as well as the Transportation and Internal Affairs Units. I was at the sheriff forum and only one candidate said she would uphold the US Constitution. From there, he was promoted to lieutenant and came back to Saratoga as the assistant commander of the West Valley Patrol Division. Colton is a latecomer to the race, having filed her nomination papers in March. NIchols owns a company called The Gun Co., which manufactures firearms parts. Monday through Friday through 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The 16-page indictment, which you can read here , lays out each defendant's alleged role in the scheme to secure a massive campaign contribution for Smith in exchange for concealed gun permits. All rights reserved, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Campaign Scandal Widens, Donors to Sheriff's Political Campaigns Far More Likely to Get Concealed Gun Permits, Los Gatos Mom Accused of Hosting Alcohol-Fueled Teen Parties Attacked in Jail, Hospitalized, Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Another Bay Area Storm This Weekend: Rain and Snow Forecast. With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. Local News | You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law. I will always remember my oath to protect and servethat will be my ultimate oath, and thats why Im running for sheriff.. Allen, 51, has mostly worked in the jail system. I will not vote for him for Sheriff. Jensen started working as a deputy at Elmwood Correctional Facility in 1985. Per a plea agreement, his charges will be downgraded to misdemeanors and a maximum 18-month jail sentence in exchange for his cooperation with the district attorney. By comparison, Sacramento County has more than 5,000 active permits. Sheriff Campaign Scandal: 4 Indicted in Concealed Carry 'Pay to Play Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. Palo Alto police chief enters race for Santa Clara County sheriff, Santa Clara County sergeant steps into sheriffs race, Second challenger joins race for Santa Clara County sheriff, Former opponent challenges embattled Santa Clara County sheriff, https://nationallibertyalliance.org/files/sheriffmemo/Power%20and%20Authority%20of%20The%20County%20Sheriff.pdf, Helen Chapman fights to save San Joses open space, Bejarano: Why I quit my East San Jose school board, Out of work: Beloved San Jose reverend faces uphill climb, Silicon Valley students stranded by shuttered schools, San Jose legislator wants to raise foster age. The other three members of her command staff including former Mountain View . Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. And Captain Jenson will even wave the mandated gun testing at a gun range," said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. / CBS San Francisco.

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