Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. How safe is your neighborhood? Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. DA Jeff Rosen alleged conspirators solicited $90,000 in campaign contributions for Sheriff Laurie Smiths political campaign in exchange for 10-12 concealed carry gun permits MORE @nbcbayarea. But the sheriff position is not just any typical management job. Jensen has also received endorsements from retired county supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley, Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran and former sheriff Robert Winter. Local News | My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. 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. A gun parts manufacturer and two South Bay lawyers were the other three individuals named in the indictment. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office West Valley Division. The morale will get better, then the whole department, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. 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.. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? "If she's doing something that's unfair and unjust, she owes it to this community to step down," said Moore. 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Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. The citys residential burglary rate is up 34%. BY EMILY MIBACH. 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. How safe is your neighborhood? The Constitution for the United States of America and its capstone iBill of Rights is the Law of the Land; and all statutes and state constitutions repugnant to the Constitution for the United States of America are null and void. I am the only candidate who has addressed these issues for 30 years, Allen said. 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. "But then when it came time to renew, I was not allowed to renew and those reasons were never explained to me phone calls were not returned," explained Moore. Every captain thats worked on this side of town has made an impact with the community. . A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. 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. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. Rosen said there were two paths when it came to the issuing of concealed gun permits by the sheriff's office: One for average citizens and one for campaign donors and VIPs. Love to know the next forum is. 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. 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. A retired Santa Clara County sheriffs captain who ran for office in 2014 and lost, Kevin Jensen believes he has the momentum to take the seat. Hes raised $72,398 through campaign donations and a loan. 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. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. To avoid the perception of impropriety, Jensen said he wont take any financial contributions from employees. The $45,000 personal check, which Nielsen handed to the PSA's assistant treasurer, Schumb, represented more than half of the funds raised by the PSA before the election that year. 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. I will not vote for him for Sheriff. Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. 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. Allen also wants to address the homophobia and racial inequitieshe sees in the office. Related Articles 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. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. Your email address will not be published. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office West Valley Division. He may be contacted at 408-868-6612 or email at email Rich Urena. Transcripts show the county supervisor blamed a chronically bad memory for his inability to recall whether he fulfilled the proficiency requirements. Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. 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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. I would love to serve in that role.. 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. | All donations are tax-deductible. Urena has also served as a field training officer, recruit training officer, detective in the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement team, a sergeant in the West Valley detective division, as a tactical flight observer aboard the sheriffs office helicopter, STAR 1, and as a mentor and leader to deputies. Harry Stern, Jensens attorney, reiterated that Jensen did not have the power to grant the concealed-gun permits. Were partnering with you the readers to make it happen. 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. CBS. 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. Look at all the officers that left for other agencies under his tenure. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. Allen has been in the trenches for bit and dont think he is a good ol boy either. She resigned as sheriff on . Jensen said hes concerned about the large number of mentally ill inmates in the jail system, butbelieves those with violent offenses need to be incarcerated. After Smith won that race, she promoted Le to captain. He cited a internal solutions group he helped create inPalo Alto to address issues like morale and promotions. 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. "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. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. 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. They should not be for sale.". 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. Kristi Myllenbeck covers all things Cupertino, from crime and breaking news to education and development. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. Local News | ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. Urena was promoted to the position Aug. 1. hoped you would put name in hat .Thanks for running !! Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. 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. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. 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. Le has been one of the most well-paid Santa Clara County employees for years. Jensen lost that election, but he believes the time is right for a new run and cites the support from the association. I was at the sheriff forum and only one candidate said she would uphold the US Constitution. 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. Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. 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. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. 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. "You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law.". Emergency Contact Information . "I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic, cautiously. "And it's very clear that that's not the case under Sheriff Smith and her office. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. Hiscampaign filings dont reflect a total amount raised to date, but Allen said hesraised $21,000. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He is my choice. James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal and business owner Michael Nichols allegedly conspired with the CEO and a middle manager of an international security company to offer a $90,000 bribe in exchange for concealed weapons permits, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. You do the math. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. So he is also a liar. 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. Jensen said he is also proud to have the support of former county Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. 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 live in Palo Alto, am happy that Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonson is leaving his Palo Alto position. 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. Urena will oversee a division that serves the communities of Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills and unincorporated areas of the county, bringing 14 years of experience into the role. 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. 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.. They should not be for sale.". Capt. She is a San Jose State University alumna and enjoys hiking and camping in her spare time. 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. 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. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. 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. Last . He said its important to increase the offices transparency. Shes concerned about declining morale in the office,notingstaffing levels are lowwhich means many employees work mandatory overtime, separating them from their families. Five candidates are jockeying for Smiths seat. That is what we are doing here.. Essentially, just be out there for the community to ask us questions and get suggestions from the community about where the problems are, he added. Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. 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. She is now on paid administrative leave. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Saratoga hosts LAW-tes and Coffee with a Cop events to keep the community engaged with the Sheriffs Office, Valenzuela said. 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.. Jonsen said the county should offer more skill-based programs in the jails for inmates so they can find employment upon release. He says it's time for Sheriff Smith to speak out if she knows anything She needs to leave and take the stench shes created with her. Santa Clara Sheriffs gun-permit process: public safety or politics? Sung is now the assistant sheriff for the administrative division. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. A sheriff sergeant with almost 30 years of service in the office, Sean Allen said his platform boils down to transparency, accountability and reform. "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. Only 62 applicants received a permit, according to the records. "People have often said the only way to obtain a permit in Santa Clara County is to make a donation to the sheriff's office.". Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September.The association's members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him.
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