Santa Clara County Sheriff Sgt. Allen has been in the trenches for bit and dont think he is a good ol boy either. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? Allen says he stands out from his opponents because hes spent much of his career openly criticizing the office. In 2017, another captain had used inmate labor to build arbors and a storage shed. She is a San Jose State University alumna and enjoys hiking and camping in her spare time. Known for. "I think as an elected official, she needs to come forward and tell the 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. 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. Reggie Cooks said he couldn't disclose why that happened and offered the following official response: "In . Nagaye, 51, has served in the Sheriffs Office for 20 years, with the last seven as a supervising sergeant. 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. At Best in the West, according to the indictment, Nichols introduced Nielsen to Jensen, where they agreed to a deal where AS Solution's agents would receive CCW permits in exchange for a large donation to the Sheriff's campaign. Saturday and Sunday through Closed. I worked with S. Allen at Elmwood (I am nurse). Local News | 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 Laurie Smith, the District Attorney's Office said Friday. Moreover, he doesn't have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. She resigned as sheriff on . My unique experience speaks for myself. Capt. 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. The second half of the agreed-upon donation amount wasstymied by the DA investigation, authorities said. Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. 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. Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . She is also a veteran, having served for five years as a combat medic and training officer in the army. We believe that working with the community, together we achieve great things and Im hoping to carry on that tradition and continue to provide the city of Cupertino with the best law enforcement services that we can.. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. 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. So he is also a liar. Look at all the officers that left for other agencies under his tenure. 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. 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. 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. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. Nagayes major endorsement is from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, and she says she has strong support among deputies and residents. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. 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. 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. 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. 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. The second half of the payment was forestalled by the DA investigation. Rosen did say that his office had reviewed phone and computer records and interviewed dozens of witnesses to determine whether there had been communication between Jensen and the Sheriff regarding the bribery scheme. West Valley Detectives. An experienced set of fresh eyes is going to help pave the way toward putting an appropriate spotlight on transparency, and building trust within the community, Elder said. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. Emergency: 9-1-1; Emergency and Non-Emergency Number from all phones: (408) 299 - 2311; General Information from cellular phone: (408) 808 - 4400 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. Sources have told this news organization that Nielsen a central figure in the scheme, who wrote the $45,000 check that touched off the investigation after Smith was re-elected in 2018 cooperated with investigators early on. Local News | Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. 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. Earlier this year, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit analyzed five years' worth of data and found that donors to Smith's political campaigns were about 14 times more likely to get a concealed weapons permit than those who did not contribute. He started his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1989. Sheriff Smith has consistently declined to comment on year-and-a-half-long probe. Instead, it will be tossed in a filing cabinet and forgotten. Its not clear if Colton qualifies for sheriff. Sheriffs Capt. 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.. If elected, Jensen said he will focus on addressing staffing and morale decline in the sheriffs office, including the correctional facilities. 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. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. ", #Breaking Four people including SantaClara Co Sheriffs Captain indicted in concealed carry pay to play scheme MORE @nbcbayarea. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September.The association's members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. 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. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. Jonsen said the county should offer more skill-based programs in the jails for inmates so they can find employment upon release. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Related Articles Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. 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.. Ricardo "Rich" Urena has been tapped to replace . If theres problems with speeding or people running stop signs, (these events) give them more direct access to us and assist them in a better way.. Nagaye said she wants the Sheriffs Office to improve its relationship with diverse communities in Santa Clara County, and would set up a commission to jumpstart this process. 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 . Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. The non-donor approval rate plummets even further for applicants who most would consider average citizens. Among the 40 non-donors to be granted concealed gun permits between 2014 and 2018 are three sitting judges, two current members of the San Jose Sharks hockey team, at least one employee of the sheriffs office, and five people who appear to be Santa Clara County reserve deputies. 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. The county has a similar program, but Jonsen wants to expand it to meet greater demand. 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 remaining four defendants, who were indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges, put off entering pleas until Sept. 21. 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. . Kevin Jensen said Tuesday that it was "humbling" that two unions want him to run against Sheriff Laurie . 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. 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.. 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding party I am the only candidate who has addressed these issues for 30 years, Allen said. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. After Smith won that race, she promoted Le to captain. Your email address will not be published. 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. 5:45 p.m. Lake County sheriff declares a local emergency due to snow. This is your newsroom. Le reportedly wanted to create a break space for correctional staff. The next sheriff will havesignificant challenges, including the ongoing warehousing of mentally ill inmates in the jail system, increased political scrutiny of the Sheriffs Office and the constructionof a new jail. 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. Capt. A former manager for a security company who implicated a Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain and others in an alleged bribery scheme to trade political donations supporting the sheriff in exchange for concealed-carry weapons has testified in the civil corruption trial . A gun parts manufacturer and two South Bay lawyers were the other three individuals named in the indictment. In addition Robert Johnson has done his best to avoid transparency. 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. He also plans to improve the treatment for mentally ill inmatesand overall conditions in the jail system. Public Safety Alliance ("PSA"), an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. 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Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations," Rosen said. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. Here are the five candidates running for sheriff in alphabetical order. The investigation is active and ongoing," said Rosen. 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. Election 2022 candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff: retired Palo Alto police chief Bob Jonsen (left) and retired sheriff's captain Kevin Jensen. Provides investigative services for all of the North/West Santa Clara County unincorporated areas and the contract cities of Saratoga, Cupertino, and Los Altos Hills. Though Wasserman is mentioned in the Aug. 6 indictment of Jensen, Schumb, Nahal and Nichols, he too has not been charged. ", According to the indictment, the alleged criminal activity began in April 2018 with a text from Nichols to attorney Harpaul Nahal, saying, "I need you to meet my buddy that runs the Facebook Executive protection team, followed by: its a potential $50K. 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. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. Law Enforcement. | All donations are tax-deductible. The exact terms of the deal were hammered out later that month, according to the indictment, when Nielsen and West met with Jensen, Nahal, and Nichols at a San Jose Jamba Juice and agreed upon an exchange of 10-to-12 CCW licenses for a $90,000 donation to Smith's campaign. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. Three other AS Solution security employees at the time who got permits Leonard Lawrence, Rachael Paskvan and Jonathan Taunton were also described as listing home addresses or non-AS employers on their applications, and have not been charged. I feel the right person for the job is not the smoothest talking person that sounded good. 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. Hope Now we get a real sherriff elected. Were partnering with you the readers to make it happen. Allen also wants to address the homophobia and racial inequitieshe sees in the office. As of January, shes raised $8,400. Le apparently ran into trouble when her superiors did not like her project, and when they learned she didn't have a building permit. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. 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. Saratoga hosts LAW-tes and Coffee with a Cop events to keep the community engaged with the Sheriffs Office, Valenzuela said. Multiple sources said the year-long investigation has centered on accusations of the sheriff's office favoring people who apply for a concealed weapons permit if they donated to Smith's reelection campaigns. Jensen said he is also proud to have the support of former county Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. 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. 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.

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