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. The culture of management can no longer be one of fear and intimidation.. The Civil Warrants Division serves Civil process in the manner prescribed by law. 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.
Former Santa Clara County sheriff's captain throws hat in - KRON4 He says it's time for Sheriff Smith to speak out if she knows anything County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer Charged with Gun Permit Bribery Scheme. Local News | According to the transcripts, Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker asked Montonye, (Jensen) said that Sung was the individual who brought Martin Nielsen to his attention? to which the investigator replied, Correct. Montonye also testified that Jensen said he was directed by Sung to give the money tell him to give the money to Schumb.. Public Safety Alliance ("PSA"), an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. They should not be for sale.". Jonsen, 59, spent the last four years working as police chief in Palo Alto. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. 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. 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.
Bios - Captain Luis Martin | City of Santa Clara In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. He also notedhes implemented community advisory groups in every command position hes held.
I-TEAM: Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain Amy Le removed from job Hannah Kanik is a Bay Area News Group reporter covering Santa Clara County's West Valley for The Mercury News, East Bay Times, The Los Gatos Weekly and The Saratoga News. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. The Sheriff's Office provides a high level of proactive police services to residents, schools, and the businesses within our jurisdiction with a strong emphasis on community service. Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. The DA's investigation began shortly after the general election in 2018, sparked by an inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation, which was reported in public filings. 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.
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"This investigation revealed the sad reality that at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office there are 2 policies for those seeking CCW licenses. Capt. August 7, 2020 / 11:34 AM Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. That is the County Sheriffs ultimate job duty. public and her constituents and say what's going on. Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . NBC Bay Area called or emailed each of the four defendants in the case Friday, but so far, only Jensen's attorney has responded. If you care about your Constitutional rights, vote for the person who UNDERSTANDS and actually WILL uphold the US Constitution and your unalienable rights! Smiths tenure as sheriff has been marred by scandals and political investigations. I feel the right person for the job is not the smoothest talking person that sounded good. Election 2022 candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff: retired Palo Alto police chief Bob Jonsen (left) and retired sheriff's captain Kevin Jensen. The side of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office vehicle is pictured in this file photo. How safe is your neighborhood? Source: https://nationallibertyalliance.org/files/sheriffmemo/Power%20and%20Authority%20of%20The%20County%20Sheriff.pdf. Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. So I can ask them about the SJ Search and Rescue team and how we can support the new sherriff. If convicted could get 11 years in prison. 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. Take a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team. She has been working for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers since 2015. Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. He also plans to improve the treatment for mentally ill inmatesand overall conditions in the jail system. Every captain thats worked on this side of town has made an impact with the community. By comparison, Sacramento County has more than 5,000 active permits. 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. We are not done.". He said after Friday's news, Sheriff Smith needs to go. Isnt that what Sheriff Laurie Smith had/has been saying? 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. The recently released autopsy report of Thomas Phan, a 40-year-old homeless man shot and killed by deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on Nov. 16, provided new details . 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. Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen remained on track Wednesday to be elected Santa Clara County's next sheriff. 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. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Attorney Christopher Schumb, right, is photographed outside of the San Jose Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Schumb was arraigned on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. 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. 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.. Like his opponents, Jensen said hes concerned about the lack of transparency in the office, which he blames on Smiths managerial style. My unique experience speaks for myself. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. 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. 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. Instead, the application would be filed away and forgotten. For a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team go here. 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. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Stromgren recalled a conversation he had with Nielsen: I told him on a couple of occasions I didnt feel comfortable. it's safer than driving," said Marin County Fire Captain Matt Watson. "You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law.".
Prosecutors expected to get alleged De Anza rape case Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. Among the charges he faces, Jensen, along with AS Solution program manager Jack Stromgren, is accused of instructing AS Solution security employees to falsify their home addresses or employer to meet in-county residency requirements for the sheriffs CCW permits. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? 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. "It's been something of an open secret within the firearms community," Long said. Hes raised $72,398 through campaign donations and a loan. Prior to being elected as the 29th Sheriff of Santa Clara County, he was the Chief of Police for Palo Alto Police Department (2018-2022). 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. Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. The new sheriff of San Mateo County, Christina Corpus, has been assembling a command staff that includes a former Realtor who has little law enforcement experience, though he has volunteered with the Woodside Mounted Patrol. 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 He supports the Board of Supervisors decision to build a new 500-person jail, and he favors adding more mental health resources for inmates.
Command Staff - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara 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. 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. 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.. That was the first step in a conspiracy to "help AS Solution, Inc. manager Martin Nielsen procure hard-to-obtain CCW licenses for his company's executive protection agents," according to the indictment. 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. "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. "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. 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. 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. In court Monday, he asked Judge Eric Geffon to re-seal the grand jury transcripts on the grounds that his clients trial rights will be prejudiced by their release.. BY EMILY MIBACH. 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. With all of the county's 754 precincts reporting as of 5 p.m. Wednesday,. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. In addition to conspiracy and bribery charges, Jensen is accused of falsifying public records. "I know a definitive link to Sheriff Smith has not been established based on these indictments, but I'm interested to see how things develop as this investigation continues into the future," said Chris Long, who applied for a CCW permit in 2019, but was denied after months of waiting. I am the only candidate who has addressed these issues for 30 years, Allen said. 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.. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s.
Sheriff Campaign Scandal: 4 Indicted in Concealed Carry 'Pay to Play 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. Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. "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. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. "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 Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128.
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain to Run Against Incumbent Sheriff He became captain in 2004 and retired in 2013. 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. I worked with S. Allen at Elmwood (I am nurse). 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. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain and three others have been charged in connection with a gun permit bribery scheme, District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced Friday.
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