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. Your email address will not be published. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. 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. Palo Alto police are out-of-control and Palo Alto has lots of payouts to victims. Sheriffs Capt. As of January, shes raised $8,400. August 10, 2016 at 12:02 p.m. / CBS San Francisco. Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp August 7, 2020 / 11:34 AM Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. And Captain Jenson will even wave the mandated gun testing at a gun range," said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. Local News | Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Nagayes major endorsement is from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, and she says she has strong support among deputies and residents. So I can ask them about the SJ Search and Rescue team and how we can support the new sherriff. Nielsen testified at a grand jury hearing July 21 that he and West met with sheriff officials and discussed offering donations and other payments with the hopes of getting bulk CCW applications approved. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Jonsen, 59, spent the last four years working as police chief in Palo Alto. Le has been one of the most well-paid Santa Clara County employees for years. Prosecutors allege that Nielsen and West were connected to Jensen by Schumb, Nahal and Nichols to get $90,000 split between the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance whose assistant treasurer was Schumb, a veteran South Bay litigator and the Sheriffs Advisory Board. "The DA's office is continuing to investigate more crimes and more individuals related to Sheriff Smith's issuance of CCW licenses. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. 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. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office West Valley Division. When asked if Jensen was acting on his own or working with Sheriff Smith, Rosen said that because the investigation was ongoing, it was not appropriate for him to comment on the possible roles of other individuals. She also served in the offices operational standards and inspections unit and worked at both Elmwood and the main jail. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. The associations members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. Santa Clara Sheriffs gun-permit process: public safety or politics? (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Attorney Harpaul Nahal, left, is photographed outside of the San Jose Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Nahal was arraigned on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. 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. Christine Nagaye wants to transform theoffice into a national role model. Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. | All donations are tax-deductible. ALL RIGHT K J!!!!! 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. 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. Civil process includes restraining orders, bench warrants, arrest warrants, evictions and any other notice or order from the courts. Now, Long said he wants to a see a system that treats all applicants equally. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. In 2017, another captain had used inmate labor to build arbors and a storage shed. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 31. 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. To avoid the perception of impropriety, Jensen said he wont take any financial contributions from employees. 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. 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. 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. 1:45 p.m. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. 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. Before that, he was chief of police in Menlo Park for five years. None of the PIOs who testified could recall an instance where they personally witnessed Smith signing an approved permit, according to the transcripts. "On August 7, 2020, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office publicly announced that Captain James Jensen has been formally charged with felony bribery, conspiracy and falsifying public documents by a Grand Jury.". 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. He says it's time for Sheriff Smith to speak out if she knows anything Per a plea agreement, his charges will be downgraded to misdemeanors and a maximum 18-month jail sentence in exchange for his cooperation with the district attorney. 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. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. I will not vote for him for 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. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. 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. A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. 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. Saratoga installed an Automatic License Plate Reader system at several intersections last spring to track cars coming in and out of the city and deter crime. If elected, Jensen said he will focus on addressing staffing and morale decline in the sheriffs office, including the correctional facilities. Kevin Jensen, a retired captain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, is running to replace Laurie Smith. 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. He became captain in 2004 and retired in 2013. 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. She has spent months fending off attacks from the Board of Supervisors, which voted no confidence in her leadership. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! I am a mom, wife, a veteran, LGBTQ+ ally and I understand the diversity of Santa Clara County, Nagaye said. 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 race is between two candidates: Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. Thats why his chances a slim. "This investigation revealed the sad reality that at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office there are 2 policies for those seeking CCW licenses. Known for. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. 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. 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. West Valley Detectives. He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. Capt. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. For a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team go here. FILE - Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith walks to a news conference in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. 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. He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. Hes worked in every area of sheriffs office jurisdiction. Im the candidate that brings the fresh perspective and greatest opportunity for change.. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. Between 2014 and 2018, 749 Santa Clara County residents applied for a new CCW permit, according to records provided by the sheriffs department. We are a bit troubled by the words overwhelmingly and unanimously (and others) when it comes to any voting. 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. Allen, 51, has mostly worked in the jail system. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. . I would love to serve in that role.. 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. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. He plans to implement greater civilian oversight in the jail systeman outstanding concern among county officials. They should not be for sale.". There is only ONE job in the United States that has the job description of defending the US Constitution and protecting We the People. Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. Transcripts show the county supervisor blamed a chronically bad memory for his inability to recall whether he fulfilled the proficiency requirements. 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 Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. She is now on paid administrative leave. 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. 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. 38 reviews of Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department "Thankfully, my only experience with the Santa Clara County Sheriffs has been getting fingerprinted at this station in San Jose. "And it's very clear that that's not the case under Sheriff Smith and her office. He started his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1989. 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. As police chief in Palo Alto, Jonsen said hes helped the city implement a program that partners behavioral health workers with police officers to respond to psychiatric emergencies. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. Office Hours. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. But the sheriff position is not just any typical management job. There are some very strong advocates for changes in the jail system, and Im among them, Jensen said. Christine Nagaye, Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen and sheriff Sgt. Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? If they dont get this then they are oblivious and are incapable of doing a good job if elected. Smiths office granted concealed gun permits to 22 of those 28 applicants, an approval rate of about 79%. Undersheriff ensnared in Santa Clara County concealed guns corruption probe, Sheriffs office hit with corruption probe over concealed weapons permits, | Criminal Justice and Public Safety Reporter. 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He replaces Capt. You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law. Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen remained on track Wednesday to be elected Santa Clara County's next sheriff. | All donations are tax-deductible. Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. BY EMILY MIBACH. Nichols, CEO of The Gun Co. based in Milpitas, reportedly knew Nielsen as a buddy, and eventually worked with Nahal and Schumb to get the alleged quid pro quo in motion. 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. It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. We know hes the best candidate to address these issues (in the office).. As a lieutenant, Le was the first female president of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Correctional Peace Officers Association, and steered the union's endorsement to Sheriff Laurie Smith this past election. 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.. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. 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. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. He may be contacted at 408-868-6612 or email at email Rich Urena. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. Sheriff's Department Captain James Jensen, attorneys Christopher Schumb and Harpaul Nahal and business owner Michael Nichols are charged with 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. Why Is Magnolia Pearl So Expensive, Stutz Blackhawk For Sale 2020, Fayette County Indictments 2022, Ryde Hospital Visitor Restrictions, Articles S