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It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office West Valley Division. Instead, the application would be filed away and forgotten. Santa Clara Sheriffs gun-permit process: public safety or politics? Santa Clara County Sheriff candidates Kevin Jensen and Bob Jonsen. Sheriffs Capt. Christine Nagaye wants to transform theoffice into a national role model. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. "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. 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. Allen says he stands out from his opponents because hes spent much of his career openly criticizing the office. Jonsen, who filed his papers to run in January, has received endorsements from former state Sen.Jim Bell, the Democratic Asian Pacific American Club and the Sunnyvale Democratic Club. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. Last year, the Board of Supervisors voted no confidence in Smith and demanded state and federal investigations into her office after several high-profile cases involving mentally ill inmates who suffered injuries, including one that resulted in the county paying a $10 million settlement. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. This all took place in 2018, while Sheriff Laurie Smith, who had the authority to grant the CCW licenses, was in a race for reelection, both in the primary and general elections. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. He said its important to increase the offices transparency. Detectives pursue all cases to conclusion from reports generated by patrol deputies, except those cases dealing with homicide, sex, or narcotics, which are . The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Thankfully, SJS usually gives the names of those who voted against a proposal. I will always remember my oath to protect and servethat will be my ultimate oath, and thats why Im running for sheriff.. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September.The association's members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Michael Nichols, right, is photographed outside of the San Jose Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Nichols was arraigned on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. Local News | 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. Santa Clara County Salaries - Sheriff's Correctional Captain Highest salary at Santa Clara County in year 2021 was $472,633. "Our concern is not whether the Sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a press release. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith has been found guilty on all six corruption and misconduct counts in her civil corruption trial. James Jensen, Christopher Schumb, Harpaul Nahal and Michael Nichols were indicted in the alleged pay-to-play plot, in which they are accused of brokering a deal for the executive security firm AS Solution to receive up to a dozen concealed-carry weapon permits in exchange for $90,000 in campaign donations to committees supporting Smiths 2018 re-election bid. 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. The second installment was forestalled by the DA investigation. The citys residential burglary rate is up 34%. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office issued the following comment to ABC7 News. Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriff's. His career in law enforcement with the sheriffs office began in 2002, and since then he has worked a wide range of assignments, which include patrolling the West Valley cities, as well as performing law enforcement duties for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authoritys transit patrol division. 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. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. None of the PIOs who testified could recall an instance where they personally witnessed Smith signing an approved permit, according to the transcripts. 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. In an interview described in testimony from DA investigator Mike Montonye, Jensen said he received direction from Sung, the undersheriff, in brokering the illicit deal. "I know they used a lot of that money on social media, slamming me," he said. Santa Clara County Sheriff Sgt. 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. 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. 5:45 p.m. Lake County sheriff declares a local emergency due to snow. 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding party Harry Stern, Jensens attorney, reiterated that Jensen did not have the power to grant the concealed-gun permits. West Valley Detectives. Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. "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.". Here are the five candidates running for sheriff in alphabetical order. The activity took place in 2018 while Sheriff Laurie Smith -- who had the authority to grant the permits -- was in a tough battle race for reelection in both the primary and general elections. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. 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.. 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. San Jos Spotlight was unable to find record of Colton serving in law enforcement. 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. 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. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. 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. "I think as an elected official, she needs to come forward and tell the Occupation. 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. 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 addition Robert Johnson has done his best to avoid transparency. Law Enforcement. How safe is your neighborhood? Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Thats why his chances a slim. 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. This DAs office has successfully prosecuted elected officials, correctional officers, sheriffs deputies, police officers, attorneys, business owners and other prominent residents, Rosen said in a statement to this news organization Monday. 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. Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. Allen said in his first 100 days in office he wants to meet with every politician in the county and glean ideas about how to improve his office. He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. 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 previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. If convicted, all four defendants could face prison time. (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. 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. But the sheriff position is not just any typical management job. 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. "I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic, cautiously. 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.