santa clara county sheriff captain santa clara county sheriff captain

Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. 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. Rosen said his office's probe was triggered by a San Jose Inside article focusing on a large 2018 contribution to Smith's campaign. 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. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. 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. Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. 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. Five candidates are jockeying for Smiths seat. Rosen wanted to make it clear his office will hold any public official accountable for misconduct. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. Permits to carry a concealed weapon can be difficult to obtain in Santa Clara County, as they are in most of the Bay Area. We are not done, he said. ALL RIGHT K J!!!!! Santa Clara County Sheriff candidates Kevin Jensen and Bob Jonsen. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? Allowing her team to continually bully and brutalize mentally challenged inmates is disgusting. 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. 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. My unique experience speaks for myself. 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. Southern California mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Capt. Between 2014 and 2018, 749 Santa Clara County residents applied for a new CCW permit, according to records provided by the sheriffs department. 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. 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. 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. I live in Palo Alto, am happy that Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonson is leaving his Palo Alto position. Local News | Law Enforcement. Last . For the average member of the public, no matter how pressing or justified their need, if they follow the procedure laid out on the sheriff's website and mail in an application, it will will not be reviewed. 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. Hiscampaign filings do not reflect a total amount raised to date, but the candidate himself says hes raised about $50,000. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. 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. CBS. Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. An inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation -- which was reported in public filings -- spurred the DA to start an investigation shortly after the general election in 2018. They could spend time in prison if they are convicted. Its not clear if Colton qualifies for sheriff. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. 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. These cameras capture vehicle license plates and compare them with Sheriffs Office databases to alert authorities when a plate matches a listing. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . In addition to bribery, the indictment accuses Jensen of conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? Jensen lost that election, but he believes the time is right for a new run and cites the support from the association. Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. "And it's very clear that that's not the case under Sheriff Smith and her office. Stromgren recalled a conversation he had with Nielsen: I told him on a couple of occasions I didnt feel comfortable. Jensen said he is also proud to have the support of former county Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. I will let people know this department is going to be run based on performance and rewards for performance.. 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. Christian West, AS Solutions CEO at the time of the alleged scheme, was charged separately on two felony conspiracy counts. 2007-03-13 12:18:00 PDT SAN JOSE -- Santa Clara County sheriff's investigators expect to go to prosecutors this week with their case against De Anza College baseball players suspected of having . Occupation. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. He says it's time for Sheriff Smith to speak out if she knows anything Thats why his chances a slim. 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.. Daily Post Staff Writer. From there, he was promoted to lieutenant and came back to Saratoga as the assistant commander of the West Valley Patrol Division. Local News | That is what we are doing here.. "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. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office West Valley Division. Now, Long said he wants to a see a system that treats all applicants equally. 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. All Rights Reserved. Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. 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 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. "I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic, cautiously. 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. BY EMILY MIBACH. I feel the right person for the job is not the smoothest talking person that sounded good. "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. Jensen later instructed AS Solutions Inc. to have their executive protection agents falsify the names of their employer on their CCW applications, and for those agents living outside the county, to falsify their addresses as well, according to the indictment. With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche Isnt that what Sheriff Laurie Smith had/has been saying? How safe is your neighborhood? 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. He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Captain James Jensen among 4 people indicted by grand jury yesterday according to DA Jeff Jensen @nbcbayarea. And were here to provide it. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. 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. And Captain Jenson will even wave the mandated gun testing at a gun range," said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. 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. The remaining four defendants, who were indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges, put off entering pleas until Sept. 21. Moreover, he doesn't have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. 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. 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. Emergency: 9-1-1; Emergency and Non-Emergency Number from all phones: (408) 299 - 2311; General Information from cellular phone: (408) 808 - 4400 Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. In 2017, she received $449,767.49 with overtime and benefits, on a $142,530.12 base salary. If you care about your Constitutional rights, vote for the person who UNDERSTANDS and actually WILL uphold the US Constitution and your unalienable rights! The county has a similar program, but Jonsen wants to expand it to meet greater demand. Detectives pursue all cases to conclusion from reports generated by patrol deputies, except those cases dealing with homicide, sex, or narcotics, which are . The race is between two candidates: Bob Jonsen and Kevin Jensen. This is your newsroom. As the I-Team reported last September, the man suffered brain damage and his parents are suing the county and the Sheriff's Department. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. A grand jury has indicted Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung and added an additional indictment against a captain linked to a concealed weapons permit scandal that has rocked the Sheriff's . In addition to bribery, the indictment charges Jensen with conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. 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.. We have seen such words used when the City Council has voted. 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. 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. She is a San Jose State University alumna and enjoys hiking and camping in her spare time. First published on August 7, 2020 / 11:34 AM. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), 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 on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. For a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team go here. "I know they used a lot of that money on social media, slamming me," he said. Jonsen said the county should offer more skill-based programs in the jails for inmates so they can find employment upon release. Jensen's attorney Harry S. Stern released the following statement to ABC7 News: James is devastated by this development. 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. Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. All Rights Reserved. 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. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. Ex-CEO of security firm pleads guilty in Santa, 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, Ex-CEO of security firm pleads guilty in Santa Clara County gun-permit bribery case, Sheriff and undersheriff plead the Fifth, supervisor blames bad memory in Santa Clara County gun-permit probe, Ex-CEO of security firm charged in Santa Clara County sheriff concealed-gun permit bribery case, Four indicted in Santa Clara County Sheriff concealed gun permit scandal, Big donor to Santa Clara County sheriffs campaign was issued rare concealed gun permit. 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. "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.". Sheriffs Capt. August 10, 2016 at 12:02 p.m. Here are the five candidates running for sheriff in alphabetical order. After Smith won that race, she promoted Le to captain. The culture of management can no longer be one of fear and intimidation.. Though Wasserman is mentioned in the Aug. 6 indictment of Jensen, Schumb, Nahal and Nichols, he too has not been charged. And were here to provide it. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations. 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. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. 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. 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. Nagayes major endorsement is from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, and she says she has strong support among deputies and residents. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. 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. 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. Smiths tenure as sheriff has been marred by scandals and political investigations. Besides sketching out the donation-for-permits plan, he surreptitiously recorded a conversation with Jensen using a DA-provided phone app, at a meeting just days before the corruption probe became public knowledge when search warrants were served at the sheriffs office. Capt. 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. Santa Clara County Salaries - Sheriff's Correctional Captain Highest salary at Santa Clara County in year 2021 was $472,633.