For example, when he worked on the Polly Klaas murder case, Jensen said he needed to have self-control. That would be a violation of state law, which requires a response be given within 90 days. 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. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. With no formal guidance on how to handle gun permits, he simply watched and learned as he went. 12. Smith invoked her Fifth Amendment rightagainst self-incrimination and refused to testify to the grand jury. He took the action due to a 2020 Department of Justice directive that prohibits the public dissemination of personally identifiable information such as names and driver's license numbers. 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. 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. The incidents are listed only after officers have left the scene, however, and do not show the exact locations of the calls. In this policy there's a lot of focus on mental health and the severely mentally ill. By cooling-off periods for inmates, we slowed things down a lot," she said. His department began recording hate incidents after local hate crimes and incidents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. About Us. In testifying before Braker some days later, Sgt. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. Melissa Hernandez was a member of the 2021-22 Los Angeles Times Fellowship class. She also supports the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT). He has attended city Human Relations Commission meetings and other community meetings to discuss concerns in a transparent manner and started the community advisory committee, which meets with him in private, to also address citizens' concerns. He is a former president of the California Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. She would hold instructors accountable for the end results if employees are not properly trained, she said. Second, I agree with HQs post, there should be a follow up on the paperwork and see how many applicants have ever been convited of possession or any other other offense vs the pile of records of violators of the law. Most are honest and do have integrity. 70 West Hedding Street. If we don't have a seat at the table, we don't deserve the trust," he said. I mean, sitting here at a grand jury after my phone has been confiscated, yes.. Can California's power grid handle a 15-fold increase in electric cars? Follow Mountain View Voice Online on Twitter @mvvoice, Facebook and on Instagram @mvvoice for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. But hes far from convinced shes finished. Express / Weekend Express 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. He would search for management-level staff outside of the department when hiring to break up cronyism, he said. 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. Sussman says the Fentanyl Working Group has made strides in reactionary measures like having Narcan more readily available. Leading with integrity is the biggest thing. To qualify for a concealed gun permit in California, an applicant must have good character, a valid reason and live in the county where its issued. It doesn't always need to be a disciplinary approach. The fifth candidate, Ahn Colton, 48, lists herself as a mother. "Management is the first place you have to start to change the culture," Allen said. I understand the complexities," he said. Nagaye said she would invest in much more training and in a training unit. And yet, Dr. Sussman says they are dying from drugs more than ever before. Christine Nagaye has used challenges throughout her life to achieve her goals. The sheriff should hold his or herself to the same standards as the public. [5] Two more inmates escaped from custody in Palo Alto in November 2017.[6]. He would also work to build trust in the community between deputies and residents so they will feel more comfortable reporting crimes. As sheriff, he would work to instill a culture and ethic that is "beyond a warrior mentality." The first witness in the civil corruption trial against Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith testified Friday. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The Almanac If we don't have a seat at the table, we don't deserve the trust," he said.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.He would establish school-outreach programs to educate children on crime prevention, gang activity, substance abuse, internet crimes and other offenses to which they can become prey.The most important quality he wants in his deputiesWhether on the street or in the jail, officers need to act with integrity, Jensen said. 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. Jonsen pointed to his years of experience as a chief and leader of law enforcement organizations that depend on professional experience to thrive. "It angers me. "It's so lacking. 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. 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. 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. Of more than 700 people who applied for a CCW permit in Santa Clara County in the past six years, records show that fewer than 150 ever received one. 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. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. That was on top of Jensens unofficial duties. Menu. I'm not above anything. Santa Clara County voters will choose between five candidates for sheriff in the June 2022 primary election. Best coffee city in the world? 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. "I think we just need to not just work on the reactive piece, that means getting Narcan into people's hands, but really work on the preventive piece of reducing supply and demand and make sure that people have access to treatment if they developed an addiction," Sussman said. Crime and Public Safety | San Jose Inside. @SCCgov. A job prospect led him to San Jose, where his wife spotted a recruitment sign for deputy sheriffs. But she has been able to do that before. Christine Nagaye A reformer who supports 'full transparency'Christine Nagaye has used challenges throughout her life to achieve her goals. Thinking you can't be held accountable is narcissistic. Mountain View City Council kicks off process of identifying priority projects for next two years. 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. He was later raised in San Francisco after his mother remarried a "functional alcoholic.". She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. Sitting in an office all day would drive me nuts. This was how the process worked until last year when the processing of new concealed-carry weapon permits was halted amid the DA investigation. When I have my one-on ones, I lay it out very clearly. A week later, the DAs office served search warrants at the sheriffs headquarters. Sitting in an office all day would drive me nuts. PR MediaRelease I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. Woman killed in motorcycle crash on San Antonio Road, Community briefs: Affordable housing project groundbreaking, planning for the future of COVID vaccines and the DA's annual awards, Newsom rescinds COVID state of emergency. He has been an independent consultant since his retirement and has taught new recruits and law-enforcement managers. Be patient.. The more honest you are, the easier we can approach it. An arraignment for the five defendants is scheduled for 9am Monday at the Santa Clara County Superior Court Hall of Justice. She supports appointing a civilian watchdog to audit law-enforcement practices and management. 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. Would you see if they lived in the county?, Would you send them a letter telling them you got it, you are not getting it?, As PIO, Glennon said hed often field calls from frustrated applicants checking on the status of their permits. I'm the only candidate working the line. Crime and Public Safety | 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. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children.Endorsements: The Rev. Courtesy Nagaye for Sheriff campaign. 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. If additional money isn't available, she would let deputies take time off from their usual duties to have more thorough training. "Between enforcement and custody, there are 1,200 deputies, but it's rare to see someone in an executive position come down and talk to the people. Before arriving in California, she was an investigative/enterprise reporter for Fresh Take Florida, a news service offered by UF. I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. "I have a proven record for establishing strong community policing programs and developing strategic solutions," he said. One male was revived with Narcan and was transported to a local hospital.". Follow her on Twitter at @jennwadsworth. Otherwise, "we're going to continue to fail those human beings," he said.Transparency"Management is the first place you have to start to change the culture," Allen said.He would search for management-level staff outside of the department when hiring to break up cronyism, he said. Updated: Jan 14, 2022 / 10:59 PM PST. He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance. Uploaded: Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 12:04 pm He would support deputizing mental health professionals to work in the jails. She's used competitive body building to push herself to new heights. Even if force is used, I have high expectations that my officers know the laws," he said. I represent the diversity of Santa Clara County. 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.During her training sessions, Nagaye said she focuses on getting deputies to stop thinking about "going hands on" with inmates as a first resort. But it has been widely noticed that at least a quarter of the recipients had contributed to Smiths campaigns, in amounts of $100 to $1,000. My mother-in-law calls me and asks, 'What is best time to go shopping?'" Jensen, who remained involved in CCW issuance even after getting promoted out of the PIO unit. General Contact Information: Main Number: (408) 299-5151 Media Line: (408) 299-5119 Office of the County Executive He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. 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. Who better to have in place to find where this money is going? "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. Laurie Smith (born June 21, 1952) was the 28th Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California, serving from 1998 until her early retirement in 2022 when under indictment for corruption. Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis? She would retrain more deputies who are on patrol in these skills and add more mental health services onto PERT teams.TransparencyShe supports appointing a civilian watchdog to audit law-enforcement practices and management. All Rights Reserved. It doesn't always need to be a disciplinary approach. Kevin Jensen said during a recent interview, prefacing his own of a tough upbringing. 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. 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. A mother of three, the San Jose resident said she would always "be there for my deputies.". After the murder of mentally ill jail inmate Michael Tyree by three guards, who were later convicted, Nagaye helped develop new policies. After the murder of mentally ill jail inmate Michael Tyree by three guards, who were later convicted, Nagaye helped develop new policies. Davis said. The Board of Supervisors. Both he and West knew it was notoriously difficult to get concealed-gun licenses in Santa Clara County. She is a breaking news and general assignment reporter who also covers the regional environmental, health and crime beats. It was the first prosecutors had heard of it, and they dug in. 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. Part of that effort comes in finding out how these men got the fentanyl in the first place. Terms of Use 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. 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. Jensen, 58, is a repeat candidate for Santa Clara County sheriff, having previously fought for the seat in the 2014 election against incumbent Smith. "Regional systems like SVRIA (Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority) would need to have a voice in the regional interoperability considerations as well. According to Cooks, applications from prosecutors, judges, elected officials, San Jose Sharks players and other VIPs typically came through Capt. She's used competitive body building to push herself to new heights. There's already a common practice in law enforcement to switch to a different channel for private conversations. At Brakers prompting, Glennon explained how a applying for a CCW should work versus how it actually worked during his few-year tenure in the unit that processed them. After attending high school in Novato, he spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. If you've had an incident, be honest and let me know. In this policy there's a lot of focus on mental health and the severely mentally ill. By cooling-off periods for inmates, we slowed things down a lot," she said.Nagaye said she believes in de-escalation techniques and training deputies to talk people in crisis down. 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. We spoke with a group of friends at the home who said they were going to visit one of the victims in the hospital. The former UFC heavyweight champion is being held at the Santa Clara County Jail. 1,322 posts. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Custody Division is the fifth largest jail system in California, and among the 20 largest systems in the United States. 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 . 456 following. 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. Nagaye said she would invest in much more training and in a training unit. 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. 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. to avoid being attacked, she said. Jonsen will be the 29th sheriff of Santa Clara County and the first new sheriff since 1998. If someone is getting into the job so they can chase a person, they aren't right for the job, he said. Researchers are honing in on potential Fentanyl vaccine amid national opioid crisis, 'Injecting Hope' | Watch documentary on innovative program tackling drug overdose, fentanyl epidemic. The Sheriff holds an elected office, which is voted on by the citizens of the County every four years. Allen said he has seen an increase in the number of inmates with mental illness during his career. This is the official Youtube channel of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. "Don't be afraid to bring someone else in," she said, to help de-escalate or assess the situation.She supports California legislative bill SB 2, which creates a statewide system to revoke the license of a police officer who commits serious misconduct, and SB 16, which requires disclosure of a sustained finding of excessive use of force if an officer failed to intervene when another officer used unreasonable or excessive force.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.Nagaye supports funding a mental health wellness center over building a new jail. Allen said he would be a hands-on sheriff. How safe is your neighborhood? Even after a finding of innocence, his arrest haunted him each time he applied for a job, he said. He is a former Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association board member and a lifelong martial artist and instructor. The Department is divided into four major bureaus Field Operations, Support Services, Jail Operations and Administrative Services. 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. Even after a finding of innocence, his arrest haunted him each time he applied for a job, he said. Bob Jonsen A track record as a leader, but not without his critics. "The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. "My exposure to these things has given me a different insight," he said.He has been married to mixed-race women who were from white, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds.The early defining experience of his arrest taught him about the perspectives of people with criminal records and about how racism and stereotyping can destroy lives. For years its been an open secret in Santa Clara County that political supporters of Smith received special treatment from her agency. One of the first things he would do is work on changing the culture in law enforcement toward being forthcoming about bad players and incidents they see while on the job. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith speaks during a news conference May 26. "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age. All rights reserved. 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. 16. 26205 requires sheriffs to process CCW petitions within 90 days of receiving them or a month after clearing a backgroundwhichever comes later. 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. A job prospect led him to San Jose, where his wife spotted a recruitment sign for deputy sheriffs. He openly criticized the department's RedMan training of deputies, who spar with a proctor who wears a fully protective padded suit, after the 2020 death of a recruit during an intensive defensive-tactics-training session.Jail reform and use of forceAllen said he has seen an increase in the number of inmates with mental illness during his career. 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. Jonsen, 59, a Palo Alto resident, has worked in law enforcement for 36 years. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office also encrypts its radio communications. 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.". TheSixFifty.com Her top brass faces charges of corruption and bribery, and the state attorney general is investigating her office for civil rights violations. Her previous work can be found in the Associated Press, U.S. News and World Report, Chicago Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle. Jensen said he grew up in a dysfunctional household with a troubled father who ended up incarcerated. The Sheriff's Office has been dogged by allegations of corruption. It came with an implicit message: Pay up, and soon youll be packing heat. 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.. Email: publicin formation@dao.sccgov.org. 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. That's why I'm great for this position. He also understands both sides of the law due to his early arrest and the racism he has encountered within the system. That's why I'm great for this position.". 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. She would provide social workers and inmate education to help address issues that cause recidivism. Time to read: about 21 minutes. He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. Currently, the Sheriff's Office has 586 full-time sworn staff. 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. ", RELATED: Researchers are honing in on potential Fentanyl vaccine amid national opioid crisis. In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. Why she says she's the best-qualified candidate. All California municipal police chiefs may issue CCWs, although some may cede this process to the sheriff. On Aug. 31, on the first arraignment date for the case, West pleaded guilty as part of a deal to help the prosecution in exchange for charging and sentencing leniency. 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 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority also contracted with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement service. Blogs God knows we need more of it. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. After attending high school in Novato, he spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He openly criticized the department's RedMan training of deputies, who spar with a proctor who wears a fully protective padded suit, after the 2020 death of a recruit during an intensive defensive-tactics-training session. All defendants have denied charges of wrongdoing and plan to fight the case. SAN JOSE, Calif. - Just days after former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith retired, she was found guilty of six civil counts of corruption and willful conduct. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. 70 West Hedding Street East Wing, 11th Floor San Jose, CA 95110. He would institute listening sessions with the community and hear about any problems people have with deputies or other personnel, he said. Circulation & Delivery Neither Sheriff Smith nor her PIOs are accused of any crimes. Feds drop felony gun case days after defense argued SFPD illegally arrested, searched defendant He announced his retirement this year and plans to step down in mid-June.