If you have any questions about the videos posted on here, please contact the Public Information Officer at 408-808 . The sheriff should hold his or herself to the same standards as the public. 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. Courtesy Bob Jonsen. I would be there and listening," she said.Nagaye said she is a born leader. In Santa Clara County, however, it seems the vast majority of applicants never got a chance to take those prerequisite steps. That was the process before I started, Glennon answered. That was the explanation they were providing., But did you ever get to it? Braker continued. Before arriving in California, she was an investigative/enterprise reporter for Fresh Take Florida, a news service offered by UF. He lives in south San Jose with his wife and blended family of four children.Endorsements: The Rev. They don't want someone peeking behind the curtain," he said.As sheriff, he would work to change the department's culture starting at the top through internal review and investigations and by improving training and evaluations.Jensen said he would work to build bridges with the community through greater transparency and communication.Encryption of police-scanner communicationsWhen asked about SB 1000, Sen. Josh Becker's bill to limit radio encryption, Jensen expressed caution. Growing up mostly in east San Jose, he used to go to a local church for free food when he was 15 and living with his mother, who misused substances. He said thats how his predecessor, James Jensen, taught him to do it. Phone: (408) 299-7500. Thursday, Judge Eric Geffon. The best way for the sheriff's office to support these communities, Nagaye said, is by building relationships of familiarity and trust by getting involved with and going into the community. The city has also faced a number of lawsuits during Jonsen's tenure, alleging excessive use of force by Palo Alto officers. But convenience was just one of the perks sheriffs aides offered the VIPs. First of all, thank you for the bit honest reporting. During the campaign events, he was the one at the door collecting the money., When prosecutor Chase asked Glennon what Jensen told him to do with typical applications, those that didnt come from Smiths political supporters, he replied, They were basically put in a drawer and left in the drawer.. Email: publicin formation@dao.sccgov.org. The County is aware of the issues that have arisen on Twitter and shares concerns about the increasing hateful rhetoric. "Compassion, respect and integrity. 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. "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. "Management is the first place you have to start to change the culture," Allen said. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live, A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? It is under investigation by the state Attorney General's Office for possible. 456 following. There are other ways to protect confidential information. San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com), The DA accuses the Sheriff's Office of offering CCW permits in exchange for political contributions. "Custody has one budget and enforcement has another. Everyone deserves equal protection "regardless of their ZIP code," he said. Now THAT would be a real investigative story. And then, you are telling us, after that you would, at the instruction of now-Capt. The indictment also contends, via seven felony charges against Jensen of falsifying paperwork, that some applicants didnt even have to go to the gun range to show that they knew how to safely use their firearms. Voters in the June 7 primary will determine which two candidates move on to the general election in November. 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. Allen said he would work to create a culture in which anyone in the sheriff's office could come forward to report misconduct without fear of retaliation. I can bring together diverse groups of people. If someone is getting into the job so they can chase a person, they aren't right for the job, he said. Under Smith, deputies murdered a mentally ill inmate, and others in custody have been injured, costing the county millions of dollars in settlements. He also understands both sides of the law due to his early arrest and the racism he has encountered within the system.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. The city also paid out $135,000 after a Palo Alto officer directed a K-9 to repeatedly bite a man who was sleeping in a shed during a manhunt for a kidnapping suspect. The Sheriff's Office. Your contribution matters. https://www.sccgov.org/sites/sheriff/Pages/ccw.aspx: The Sheriff may issue a license to any person residing within Santa Clara County. All Rights Reserved. San Jose Inside. 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. Rosen has said more charges are coming in the case. Her father-in-law doesn't know if he will be targeted when he goes out. The Board of Supervisors. 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. 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. He has been an independent consultant since his retirement and has taught new recruits and law-enforcement managers. He has instituted mindfulness strategies to improve officers' well-being. Crime and Public Safety | Would you do a Live Scan? Braker asked, referring to a background check software. "Unfortunately, three of the victims inside the house were pronounced deceased at the scene. Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff 3 years 10 months Public Information Officer (PIO) Apr 2021 - Present1 year 2 months Deputy Sheriff Aug 2018 - Apr 20212 years 9 months Office. Jonsen moved north to become Menlo Park's police chief in 2013, and then he became Palo Alto's chief in 2018. "We have to earn it. The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. Bob Jonsen A track record as a leader, but not without his criticsBob Jonsen, Palo Alto's police chief, is vying for a job once held by his great-uncle, Jonathan Sweigert, who was Santa Clara County sheriff from 1887 to 1891. This forum recording is the property of the . These positions are broken down as follows: In addition to the full-time sworn staff, the Sheriff's Office has 65 Reserve Deputy Sheriffs. Endorsements: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley; multiple individual donors, many of whom are Santa Clara County Sheriff deputies. If elected, he would be a different kind of sheriff from Smith, who had once been his professional partner. Could you look into that? He also supports the establishment of a civilian review board with subpoena power to investigate misconduct allegations. A mother of three, the San Jose resident said she would always "be there for my deputies.". Leading with integrity is the biggest thing. David Sanders, the CEO of a Santa Clara computer services firm and a campaign contributor to Sheriff Laurie Smith, opened the trunk of his car and pointed to his handgun. And yet, Dr. Sussman says they are dying from drugs more than ever before. Jensen said reform depends on the right leadership.He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance.He said he would also work to break the cycle of fear and intimidation in the jail, where inmates have created a self-governance culture. Crime and Public Safety | Lets see what the truth is.. Embarcadero Media file photo by Magali Gauthier. Jensen is "100% for front-end mental health services" that help keep people safe and out of jail. He is a former president of the California Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates.Endorsements: Wide ranging, including the Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association, multiple fire and police groups and individuals, including retired Palo Alto police Chief Dennis Burns.Website: kevinjensen4sheriff.comWhy he says he's the best-qualified candidate"I've done about every job you can do. There are other ways to protect confidential information. In most agencies that use a 10 code, the common term is '103' to go to a different channel for confidential information. "I have a proven record for establishing strong community policing programs and developing strategic solutions," he said.Jonsen launched the Palo Alto Police Department's Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) last November, which pairs an officer with a licensed mental health clinician from the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department to provide rapid intervention to people in a mental health crisis. Shes an avid lover of golden retrievers and Rocky Road ice cream. One may wonder how many concealed weapons are carried around SCC every day WITHOUT a permit. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. 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. You said backlog, we will get to it, but did that, in reality, ever happen? 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. "Regional systems like SVRIA (Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority) would need to have a voice in the regional interoperability considerations as well. We have made meaningful change. 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. Jensen believes they have to get the idea that they are there to serve, even though emotions might sometimes want to get in the way.For example, when he worked on the Polly Klaas murder case, Jensen said he needed to have self-control. The winning applications usually came from Undersheriff Rick Sung, Capt. "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age. Smith was speaking ahead of a Board of Supervisors meeting, where members were set to discuss a potential investigation of the incident in which Hogan was injured. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis. Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday, L.A. wants to evict families living in luxury hotel since botched 2021 fireworks detonation, Former Pleasanton cop found not guilty of murder in DUI crash, Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows, Feds drop felony gun case days after defense argued SFPD illegally arrested, searched defendant, | Criminal Justice and Public Safety Reporter. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency that serves Santa Clara County, California. In testifying before Braker some days later, Sgt. She's used competitive body building to push herself to new heights. If someone is getting into the job so they can chase a person, they aren't right for the job, he said. In a Silicon Valley Public Accountability Foundation questionnaire of the candidates, Colton framed her responses in Constitutional terms: The sheriff protects the citizens and upholds their Constitutional rights. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis.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.Allen said he would also focus on proper training of deputies in de-escalation techniques so that uses of force and weapons are last responses. "The earliest memory I have is of people bringing food," he said. "I have a proven record for establishing strong community policing programs and developing strategic solutions," he said. There needs to be accurate information, not conjecture., On Monday, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo called on Smith who was first elected in 1998 to resign. Endorsements: Wide ranging, including the Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association, multiple fire and police groups and individuals, including retired Palo Alto police Chief Dennis Burns. Jonsen acknowledged that excessive-force incidents have occurred, but he said they have been thoroughly reviewed and the involved officers were held accountable, including the departure of officers who were found culpable. Nagaye said she believes in de-escalation techniques and training deputies to talk people in crisis down. Did they just go in the filing cabinet?, They went to the filing cabinet and stayed there.. 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. 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. Palo Alto Online My mother-in-law calls me and asks, 'What is best time to go shopping?'" The grand jury testimony gives the first inside look at the casual way the process worked: Jensen would make house calls to deliver VIPs their gun-permit paperwork, at least once to a judge, and in a few instances, to players for the San Jose Sharks. 12K followers. He also understands both sides of the law due to his early arrest and the racism he has encountered within the system. Jensen believes they have to get the idea that they are there to serve, even though emotions might sometimes want to get in the way. I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. Equity "is the primary issue of this election carrying the momentum of the last two years where we have done so much around race and equality," Jonsen said. "I am the only candidate to call for ending the encryption of radios, and I have been calling for the end of this policy since launching my campaign. When someone sent an application through the mail or dropped it off at the Sheriffs Office headquarters off of Younger Avenue in San Jose, Glennon said hed log the information on a spreadsheet and then file it. Special Pubs Personal attorneys for Smith and Sung have said their clients have no culpability in the indicted crimes. When people can't get information from the news and the sheriff is not responsive, it creates distrust in the community, she said. Back-room beatings make people afraid to go against the shot-callers, he said. As sheriff, he would work to instill a culture and ethic that is "beyond a warrior mentality." Allen said he has seen an increase in the number of inmates with mental illness during his career. Since the establishment of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office, seven officers have died while on duty.[7]. We can do training and have verbal discussions. Davis said. In fact, none of the PIOs who testified ever recalled actually witnessing Smith sign one. The sheriff oversees more than $188 million and 711 staff members (and an additional 1,080 staff and $200.6 million for the Department of Corrections). Voters either looked the other way or people didnt have a lot of knowledge or interest.. Her top brass faces charges of corruption and bribery, and the state attorney general is investigating her office for civil rights violations. Jonsen pointed to his years of experience as a chief and leader of law enforcement organizations that depend on professional experience to thrive. He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. Already, with conspiracy and bribery indictments of Jensen, attorney and fundraiser Christopher Schumb and two others, the scheme stands as one of the biggest political corruption cases to hit the South Bay in more than four decades. Neither Sheriff Smith nor her PIOs are accused of any crimes. Allen is the only African American in the sheriff's race, he noted. An arraignment for the five defendants is scheduled for 9am Monday at the Santa Clara County Superior Court Hall of Justice. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. Crime and Public Safety | Even if force is used, I have high expectations that my officers know the laws," he said. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. The department is also documenting microaggressions to track hate-incident patterns to proactively intervene before they escalate to crimes.Everyone deserves equal protection "regardless of their ZIP code," he said.As sheriff, he said, he would continue community policing and engage in outreach to help all areas of the community.The most important quality he wants in his deputies"Compassion, respect and integrity. In most agencies that use a 10 code, the common term is '103' to go to a different channel for confidential information. The incidents are listed only after officers have left the scene, however, and do not show the exact locations of the calls.Communities of colorEquity "is the primary issue of this election carrying the momentum of the last two years where we have done so much around race and equality," Jonsen said.His department began recording hate incidents after local hate crimes and incidents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. So they were always kind of pending.. 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. In a Silicon Valley Public Accountability Foundation questionnaire of the candidates, Colton framed her responses in Constitutional terms: The sheriff protects the citizens and upholds their Constitutional rights. He has served in patrol, the gang unit, as a reserve training officer, administrative training officer, emergency response team leader and training officer, housing unit training officer in the jails and academy instructor. I'm the only candidate working the line. As coordinator of the Antelope Valley Crime Fighting Initiative, his programs reduced crime by 29%, and the initiative received the statewide James Q. Wilson Award for Community Policing in 2010, he said. That's why I'm great for this position. He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance. The incident was a brazen riff on Californias carefully crafted concealed-gun permit law, but it emerges as typical of Santa Clara Countys freewheeling, pay-to-play version of the process, as alleged in testimony detailed in 900 pages of grand jury transcripts released late last month. [1] She was convicted in November. 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. We can do training and have verbal discussions. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT). Jensen met his wife at Bible college and they married at age 19. I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office | San Jose CA "I'm 100% in favor of full transparency. Richard Glennon. It was the first prosecutors had heard of it, and they dug in. "I know where the bad apples are. Jensen, who remained involved in CCW issuance even after getting promoted out of the PIO unit. The false arrest "gave me the determination to become a law enforcement officer who is fair, just and treats everyone I encounter equally.". "The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. Fax: (408) 286-5437. 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. 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. Please see the flyers for more information. Christine Nagaye A reformer who supports 'full transparency'Christine Nagaye has used challenges throughout her life to achieve her goals. Jonsen said he worked hard during the pandemic to retain a dedicated public information officer to address media inquiries, but budget cuts eliminated the position. Investigator Lacy Hyland examined the audio from that meeting, and both she and Nielsen told the grand jury that Jensen directed Nielsen to donate the second $45,000 to the Sheriffs Advisory Board. While I am in favor of these efforts towards transparency, I want to ensure that they will be implemented without delay in receiving vital database returns or in any way jeopardizing officers or victims due to such delays," he said.Communities of colorJensen, whose wife is Hispanic, said he would sit down with members of the public, particularly the underserved, to work on problems and gain trust. He would support deputizing mental health professionals to work in the jails. She said she is concerned about hate crimes, which have dramatically increased in the Bay Area. The case is still pending.Jonsen and his wife, a doctor, have two sons and a young grandson.Endorsements: Police chiefs and top law enforcement including those in Los Altos and Menlo Park; multiple members of Jonsen's community advisory group, among others.Website: bob4sheriff.comWhy he says he's the best-qualified candidateJonsen pointed to his years of experience as a chief and leader of law enforcement organizations that depend on professional experience to thrive. Allen said he would be a hands-on sheriff. "In the sheriff's office, I was referred to as OJ Simpson," he said.The false arrest "gave me the determination to become a law enforcement officer who is fair, just and treats everyone I encounter equally. 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. I had no discretion whether or not somebody were to get a permit. Bob Jonsen A track record as a leader, but not without his critics. 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. Terms of Use Thinking you can't be held accountable is narcissistic. "The stakes of making a small mistake have never been higher," Dr. Sussman said. Her top brass faces charges of corruption and bribery, and the state attorney general is investigating her office for civil rights violations. A job prospect led him to San Jose, where his wife spotted a recruitment sign for deputy sheriffs. 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.