santa clara county sheriff captain santa clara county sheriff captain

Emergency Contact Information . Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. CBS. He is my choice. 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. When I had asked him in one of those early conversations I got, like I dont remember the words it was, basically, Dont ask.'. "This investigation revealed the sad reality that at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office there are 2 policies for those seeking CCW licenses. 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. Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. 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. Neil Valenzuela takes over Sheriffs West, 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, Capt. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. 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. 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.. Sheriffs Capt. 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. 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. The conflict is so real and so grave that fair treatment of Schumb is unlikely unless the district attorneys office is disqualified, Wall wrote in the motion. Southern California mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days Hope Now we get a real sherriff elected. Your email address will not be published. Neil Valenzuela takes over Sheriffs West Valley Patrol Division, 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding party, With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche, Southern California mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days, Oakland police investigating spate of shootings that left one dead, five wounded, Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp. These cameras capture vehicle license plates and compare them with Sheriffs Office databases to alert authorities when a plate matches a listing. But the approval rate skyrockets for the 28 applicants who either gave campaign cash to Sheriff Laurie Smith directly or where a family member or employer donated. 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. . 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. He replaces Capt. 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. The county has a similar program, but Jonsen wants to expand it to meet greater demand. 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. I think its important to know the men and women who have this difficult job in difficult times are this much behind a candidate, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. 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. Public Safety Alliance ("PSA"), an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations. He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. As the I-Team reported last September, the man suffered brain damage and his parents are suing the county and the Sheriff's Department. This is my favorite place to work. Instead, the application would be filed away and forgotten. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Capt. A sheriff sergeant with almost 30 years of service in the office, Sean Allen said his platform boils down to transparency, accountability and reform. Click hereif you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device. The ABC7 News I-Team asked Le to provide a comment but she declined. The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. 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. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. He replaces Capt. Rosen noted that any average member of the public applying for a CCW license in accordance with the instructions on the Sheriff's Office website would not have their application reviewed. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. 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. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . 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. Thats why his chances a slim. 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. In a lawsuit filed Nov. 13 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Amy Le says the Sheriff's Office effectively forced her to resign in retaliation for alerting higher-ups about a female lieutenant's sexual harassment complaint against a high-ranking officer. Len Ramirez and Kiet Do contributed to this story. 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. For a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team go here. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 31. We are not done, he said. She has been working for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers since 2015. 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. The Civil Warrants Division serves Civil process in the manner prescribed by law. He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office West Valley Division. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. Character is hugeif you dont have the ability to make decisions for the right reasons, it wont work, Jensen said. Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. "Our concern is not whether the Sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a press release. 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 . 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. Permits to carry a concealed weapon can be difficult to obtain in Santa Clara County, as they are in most of the Bay Area. 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. She is now on paid administrative leave. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. He spent the bulk of his career27 yearsin the LA County Sheriffs Department, retiring as captain of Lancaster Station. 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. "If she's doing something that's unfair and unjust, she owes it to this community to step down," said Moore. Related Articles Allen has been in the trenches for bit and dont think he is a good ol boy either. The second half of the payment was forestalled by the DA investigation. 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 Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. "I think people should be treated fairly and equally under this system," Long said. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Long, who created a blog to document the CCW process in Santa Clara County, said he was unsurprised by the indictments. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. That is the County Sheriffs ultimate job duty. 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. If they dont get this then they are oblivious and are incapable of doing a good job if elected. The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. Sheriff Bob Jonsen has been in law enforcement since 1986. Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . Daily Post Staff Writer. And if she feels that Smith has not filed papers for reelection or said publicly whether she intends to run. I was at the sheriff forum and only one candidate said she would uphold the US Constitution. Saying yes, but doing NO. Hiscampaign filings dont reflect a total amount raised to date, but Allen said hesraised $21,000. The activity took place in 2018 while Sheriff Laurie Smith -- who had the authority to grant the permits -- was in a tough battle race for reelection in both the primary and general elections. 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. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. 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. 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. His command experience includes serving as the assistant director of the protective services department at Valley Medical Center, the assistant division commander of the investigations division and the division commander of the court security division. As a detective he was assigned to the West Valley division, he was also one of our tactical flight observers up in our sheriffs helicopter, a field training officer and recruit training officer at the academy.. The Sheriff's Office Parks Patrol Unit provides law enforcement services for the 28 regional parks and lakes managed by the Santa Clara County Parks Department. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Jensen lost that election, but he believes the time is right for a new run and cites the support from the association. 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. 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. Sheriff spokesman Sgt. You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law. 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. 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Transcripts show the county supervisor blamed a chronically bad memory for his inability to recall whether he fulfilled the proficiency requirements. 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. 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. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. 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 citys residential burglary rate is up 34%. Santa Clara County Salaries - Sheriff's Correctional Captain Highest salary at Santa Clara County in year 2021 was $472,633. NBC Bay Area called or emailed each of the four defendants in the case Friday, but so far, only Jensen's attorney has responded. Local News | There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. He got his start in the West Valley working as a patrol deputy and detective before he was assigned as the investigator for the county councils office. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. . BY EMILY MIBACH. 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. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. As we gather more evidence, we expect to file more charges against more individuals in the coming weeks. 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. 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 . Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. 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. Hirokawa said Jensen's quick rise to captain after Smith's re-election raised eyebrows in the office at the time. 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. Kinda like if you are applying for a cook job and you are not aware that preparing meals is the basic part of your job then what is the point of continuing the job interview? He is unlikely to be any better than the current Sherriff. The side of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office vehicle is pictured in this file photo. If convicted, all four defendants could face prison time. 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. So he is also a liar. "You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law.". "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. And were here to provide it. She needs to leave and take the stench shes created with her. Both Smith and Undersheriff Rick Sung invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when they appeared before a criminal grand jury Aug. 3, and refused to answer any questions about the scandal, according to transcripts of the proceedings. By comparison, Sacramento County has more than 5,000 active permits. Urena was promoted to the position Aug. 1. She previously worked as a reporter for PhillyVoice in Philadelphia and freelanced for The Seattle Times and The Whiskey Wash. She grew up in Sacramento, California, and graduated with a BA degree from the University of Oregon where she majored in journalism and minored in political science. 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. He said after Friday's news, Sheriff Smith needs to go. Rosen wanted to make it clear his office will hold any public official accountable for misconduct. 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. After submitting seven concealed weapon permit applications to Jensen at a meeting, AS Solution manager Martin Nielsen donated $45,000 -- half of the agreed amount -- to the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance, an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. Local News | Rosen reiterated Monday that his offices investigation is still active, but declined to comment on whether prosecutors are any closer to implicating the sheriff. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Captain James Jensen among 4 people indicted by grand jury yesterday according to DA Jeff Jensen @nbcbayarea. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. West, who Rosen said has given truthful testimony to date, similarly told the grand jury, with the number of CCWs that we were hoping to get, they believed that, $90,000 would be a reasonable donation, according to a July 31 transcript. 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. She is also a veteran, having served for five years as a combat medic and training officer in the army. 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. To address the offices transparency, Nagaye said she would provide the Board of Supervisors and Office of Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring with all materials that have been requested. 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. 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. It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is photographed outside of the San Jose Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group). Ricardo "Rich" Urena has been tapped to replace . 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. I worked with S. Allen at Elmwood (I am nurse). In addition Robert Johnson has done his best to avoid transparency. Reggie Cooks said he couldn't disclose why that happened and offered the following official response: "In . Le reportedly wanted to create a break space for correctional staff. Before that, he was chief of police in Menlo Park for five years. "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. 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 a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges in a scheme tied to Sheriff Laurie Smith's reelection campaign. Five candidates are jockeying for Smiths seat. Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. A sheriff's captain was among four people indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges as part of an election campaign scandal tied to Santa Clara County Sheriff.