Jensen has also received endorsements from retired county supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley, Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran and former sheriff Robert Winter. Jensen said he is also proud to have the support of former county Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. Jensen started working as a deputy at Elmwood Correctional Facility in 1985. Rosen wanted to make it clear his office will hold any public official accountable for misconduct. Were partnering with you the readers to make it happen. document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); San Jos residents deserve a trusted source for unbiased, independent political news. If they dont get this then they are oblivious and are incapable of doing a good job if elected. All Rights Reserved. Election 2022 candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff: retired Palo Alto police chief Bob Jonsen (left) and retired sheriff's captain Kevin Jensen. Capt. A grand jury has indicted Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung and added an additional indictment against a captain linked to a concealed weapons permit scandal that has rocked the Sheriff's . "It's very unusual for a captain to be walked off in that manner for a project that wasn't for personal gain, on jail property. We know hes the best candidate to address these issues (in the office).. Saratoga hosts LAW-tes and Coffee with a Cop events to keep the community engaged with the Sheriffs Office, Valenzuela said. Hes worked in every area of sheriffs office jurisdiction. How the scandal-plagued Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office will operate in a post-Laurie Smith era will be determined by the vote of the people in the Nov. 8 election. A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. Christian West, AS Solutions CEO at the time of the alleged scheme, was charged separately on two felony conspiracy counts. With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche Jonsen said he has experience stabilizing organizations bleeding staff, noting he helped staunch the flow of people leaving the Menlo Park and Palo Alto police departments, in part by raising salaries to a competitive level. it's safer than driving," said Marin County Fire Captain Matt Watson. But now people are returning back to work, returning to normal life and going on vacations, so folks are starting to take advantage of that.. 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. 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 Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters told San Jos Spotlight Colton is a registered voter in the county, and submitted a signed declaration swearing she meets the requirements of the position. "If you made a campaign donation and if Captain Jensen knew you to be a VIP, then you got special treatment and you got a CCW license," Rosen said. Emergency: 9-1-1; Emergency and Non-Emergency Number from all phones: (408) 299 - 2311; General Information from cellular phone: (408) 808 - 4400 With all of the county's 754 precincts reporting as of 5 p.m. Wednesday,. Nielsens cooperation with the DA was affirmed in the grand jury transcripts, in which he testified that he understood he was still subject to potential misdemeanor charges even if he helped the prosecution. Instead, it will be tossed in a filing cabinet and forgotten. He spent the bulk of his career27 yearsin the LA County Sheriffs Department, retiring as captain of Lancaster Station. We are a bit troubled by the words overwhelmingly and unanimously (and others) when it comes to any voting. Office Hours. "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. Colton is a latecomer to the race, having filed her nomination papers in March. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. That is the County Sheriffs ultimate job duty. Emergency Contact Information . 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. Smiths office granted concealed gun permits to 22 of those 28 applicants, an approval rate of about 79%. 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. 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. She has spent months fending off attacks from the Board of Supervisors, which voted no confidence in her leadership. The $45,000 personal check, which Nielsen gave to Schumb -- the PSA's assistant treasurer -- represented more than half of the funds raised by the organization prior to the election that year. Sources tell the I-Team that Le was a supervisor at the Main Jail's sally port when a mentally ill inmate was beating his head against a post inside a transport van. For the average member of the public, no matter how pressing or justified their need, if they follow the procedure laid out on the sheriff's website and mail in an application, it will will not be reviewed. Jensen is also accused of signing off on seven permit recipients who did not complete mandatory firearms proficiency exams including a permit renewal for county Supervisor Mike Wasserman. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. He wants to dismantle the system of nepotism that he claims took root in the Sheriffs Office during Smiths tenure. Nagaye, 51, has served in the Sheriffs Office for 20 years, with the last seven as a supervising sergeant. 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. 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. Only 62 applicants received a permit, according to the records. Ricardo "Rich" Urena has been tapped to replace . This DAs office has successfully prosecuted elected officials, correctional officers, sheriffs deputies, police officers, attorneys, business owners and other prominent residents, Rosen said in a statement to this news organization Monday. Sean Allen. 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. SAN JOSE The former CEO of an executive security firm charged in an alleged scheme to trade political donations for concealed-gun permits from the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office abruptly pleaded guilty in the case Monday, in what prosecutors called a significant development for a corruption probe that could threaten Sheriff Laurie Smiths two-decade tenure. Kevin Jensen said Tuesday that it was "humbling" that two unions want him to run against Sheriff Laurie . Last . The Santa Clara County District Attorney said the defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020. at San Jose's Hall of Justice. SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced Friday that four people -- including a Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain -- have been indicted by. Your email address will not be published. Sheriffs Capt. In the 20 years that Neil Valenzuela has worked for the Sheriffs Office, he keeps coming back to Saratoga. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. In addition to conspiracy and bribery charges, Jensen is accused of falsifying public records. 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. Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. The testimonies confirm an earlier report from this news organization that found CCW permits were most frequently granted to high-profile applicants, and that the most common condition for approvals was a reference or order from Smith or one of her top commanders. The investigation found that weeks after the scheme was hatched, the conspirators settled on a $90,000 "donation" in exchange for 10 to 12 CCW licenses. County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer Charged with Gun Permit Bribery Scheme. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. I was at the sheriff forum and only one candidate said she would uphold the US Constitution. CBS. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations. ", #Breaking Four people including SantaClara Co Sheriffs Captain indicted in concealed carry pay to play scheme MORE @nbcbayarea. It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. "I think people should be treated fairly and equally under this system," Long said. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations," Rosen said. The investigation found that weeks after the scheme was hatched, the conspirators settled on a $90,000 "donation" in exchange for 10 to 12 CCW licenses. 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. 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. A gun parts manufacturer and two South Bay lawyers were the other three individuals named in the indictment. Le apparently ran into trouble when her superiors did not like her project, and when they learned she didn't have a building permit. 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. 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. He became captain in 2004 and retired in 2013. Stromgren, who oversaw the security firms Facebook protection team, has not been charged, and testified to the grand jury that he was uneasy about the arrangement. 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. FILE - Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith walks to a news conference in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Character is hugeif you dont have the ability to make decisions for the right reasons, it wont work, Jensen said. 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. Local News | After submitting 7 CCW license applications to Jensen at a meeting, AS Solution manager Martin Nielsen donated the first half of that amount to the Santa Clara County. Christine Nagaye wants to transform theoffice into a national role model. 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. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . Allen was firm, fair and integrity was not an issue. "My concern is not whether the sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," said Rosen. Sources close to the case tell the I-Team's Dan Noyes the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. "It's been something of an open secret within the firearms community," Long said. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Its going to be an easy election for voters to choosetheyre either going to choose somebody in the organization, or theyre going to choose for change, Jonsen said. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. 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. I live in Palo Alto, am happy that Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonson is leaving his Palo Alto position. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. Santa Clara County Salaries - Sheriff's Correctional Captain Highest salary at Santa Clara County in year 2021 was $472,633. 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. 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. To do it right you have to first know what is the requirement of the job then figure out if the candidates understand those requirements. 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. Capt. As of January, shes raised $8,400. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriff's. The DA's Office said it is continuing to investigate additional crimes and individuals in relation to the issuing of CCW licenses. In 2020, Luis was selected as the Acting Captain of the Special Operations Division and officially became fulltime Captain of this same division in September of 2021. document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); San Jos residents deserve a trusted source for unbiased, independent political news. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. 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. Harry Stern, Jensens attorney, reiterated that Jensen did not have the power to grant the concealed-gun permits. Jonsen, 59, spent the last four years working as police chief in Palo Alto. In addition to bribery, the indictment accuses Jensen of conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. Smith has not filed papers for reelection or said publicly whether she intends to run. 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. 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. Jensen lost that election, but he believes the time is right for a new run and cites the support from the association. I havent been provided any evidence at this point, but broadly speaking I believe that all of the folks involved were legally able to obtain the permits. These cameras capture vehicle license plates and compare them with Sheriffs Office databases to alert authorities when a plate matches a listing. Local News | Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? Sheriff Robert Jonsen Sheriff's Office Facebook Page Sheriff's Office Twitter Feed Sheriff's Office Instagram Feed Contact Us 55 West Younger Avenue San Jose, CA 95110-1721 Phone: (408) 808-4400 Toll Free: (800) 211-2220 Fax: (408) 294-2467 Email: so.website@shf.sccgov.org 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. "People have often said the only way to obtain a permit in Santa Clara County is to make a donation to the sheriff's office.". She resigned as sheriff on . He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. 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. Capt. 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. But the sheriff position is not just any typical management job. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Christian West, left, the former CEO and Founder of the security company AS Solution is photographed outside of the Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. West pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. 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. I just want to do it within reason, getting mental health help we need on the front end, and also providing for those people who have to be in the jails.. Kristi Myllenbeck covers all things Cupertino, from crime and breaking news to education and development. I will not vote for him for Sheriff. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. "If she's doing something that's unfair and unjust, she owes it to this community to step down," said Moore. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office issued the following comment to ABC7 News. When I had asked him in one of those early conversations I got, like I dont remember the words it was, basically, Dont ask.'. None of the PIOs who testified could recall an instance where they personally witnessed Smith signing an approved permit, according to the transcripts. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. Source: https://nationallibertyalliance.org/files/sheriffmemo/Power%20and%20Authority%20of%20The%20County%20Sheriff.pdf. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen remained on track Wednesday to be elected Santa Clara County's next sheriff. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Sheriff Smith has consistently declined to comment on year-and-a-half-long probe. hoped you would put name in hat .Thanks for running !! "However, if you are -- in the words of Sheriff's Captain James Jenson -- a 'VIP,' then he'll meet you at Starbucks, personally review your application and help you fill it out," said Rosen. Reggie Cooks said he couldn't disclose why that happened and offered the following official response: "In . 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. The race is between two candidates: Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Santa Clara Sheriffs gun-permit process: public safety or politics? (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. Nagayes major endorsement is from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, and she says she has strong support among deputies and residents. 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 . Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. She also served in the offices operational standards and inspections unit and worked at both Elmwood and the main jail. You do the math. 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 was unable to find record of Colton serving in law enforcement. Santa Clara County sheriff-elect Bob Jonsen will take office early after Board of Supervisors vote Jonsen, who was elected sheriff with 50.81% of the vote in November, will become the. Like his opponents, Jensen said hes concerned about the lack of transparency in the office, which he blames on Smiths managerial style. Daily Post Staff Writer. The citys residential burglary rate is up 34%. However, if you are in the words of sheriff's Captain James Jenson a VIP, then he will meet you at Starbucks, personally review your application and help you fill it out. And if she feels that 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. 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding party Allowing her team to continually bully and brutalize mentally challenged inmates is disgusting. The second installment was forestalled by the DA investigation. 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. They should not be for sale.". Rick Sung as commander of the patrol division. Most of those applicants did not donate to the Sheriffs political campaign over that time period and fewer than 6% of those non-donors were awarded a concealed gun permit, according to sheriffs office records and publicly available campaign contribution data. 5:45 p.m. Lake County sheriff declares a local emergency due to snow. He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. That is what we are doing here.. ALL RIGHT K J!!!!! 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. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. Now, Long said he wants to a see a system that treats all applicants equally. Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? NBC Bay Area called or emailed each of the four defendants in the case Friday, but so far, only Jensen's attorney has responded. Le reportedly wanted to create a break space for correctional staff. 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. Ex-CEO of security firm pleads guilty in Santa, 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, Ex-CEO of security firm pleads guilty in Santa Clara County gun-permit bribery case, Sheriff and undersheriff plead the Fifth, supervisor blames bad memory in Santa Clara County gun-permit probe, Ex-CEO of security firm charged in Santa Clara County sheriff concealed-gun permit bribery case, Four indicted in Santa Clara County Sheriff concealed gun permit scandal, Big donor to Santa Clara County sheriffs campaign was issued rare concealed gun permit.