BY EMILY MIBACH. Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. As we gather more evidence, we expect to file more charges against more individuals in the coming weeks. 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. "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.". 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. In addition to conspiracy and bribery charges, Jensen is accused of falsifying public records. Allen has received endorsements fromReverend Jeff Moore, former president of the Silicon Valley NAACP, and several retired sheriff employees. "They should not be for sale. "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. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. Christine Nagaye, Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen and sheriff Sgt. NIchols owns a company called The Gun Co., which manufactures firearms parts. Capt. 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. The second half of the agreed-upon donation amount wasstymied by the DA investigation, authorities said. We have seen such words used when the City Council has voted. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. The DA's Office said it is continuing to investigate additional crimes and individuals in relation to the issuing of CCW licenses. If they dont get this then they are oblivious and are incapable of doing a good job if elected. 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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. They should not be for sale.". West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of, 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, West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of sheriff offices West Valley division. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. Moreover, he doesn't have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. "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. 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. That is the County Sheriffs ultimate job duty. Sean Allen. In a statement, attorney Harry S. Stern said: "James is devastated by this development. Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. 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. 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. He wants to dismantle the system of nepotism that he claims took root in the Sheriffs Office during Smiths tenure. 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. 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 Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. Saturday and Sunday through Closed. 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.. Look at all the officers that left for other agencies under his tenure. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Capt. A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. Instead, the application would be filed away and forgotten. He replaces Capt. Stromgren recalled a conversation he had with Nielsen: I told him on a couple of occasions I didnt feel comfortable. The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. 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. 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. Election 2022 candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff: retired Palo Alto police chief Bob Jonsen (left) and retired sheriff's captain Kevin Jensen. 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. 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.. Southern California mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days He also plans to improve the treatment for mentally ill inmatesand overall conditions in the jail system. With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche 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. Le apparently ran into trouble when her superiors did not like her project, and when they learned she didn't have a building permit. All of these people do not feel safe, and they feel threatened, Nagaye told San Jos Spotlight. An experienced set of fresh eyes is going to help pave the way toward putting an appropriate spotlight on transparency, and building trust within the community, Elder said. Smiths tenure as sheriff has been marred by scandals and political investigations. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September.The association's members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. Allowing her team to continually bully and brutalize mentally challenged inmates is disgusting. Permits to carry a concealed weapon can be difficult to obtain in Santa Clara County, as they are in most of the Bay Area. 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. Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . If convicted could get 11 years in prison. Saratoga hosts LAW-tes and Coffee with a Cop events to keep the community engaged with the Sheriffs Office, Valenzuela said. 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. 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. By comparison, Sacramento County has more than 5,000 active permits. 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. His command experience includes serving as the assistant director of the protective services department at Valley Medical Center, the assistant division commander of the investigations division and the division commander of the court security division. Allen, 51, has mostly worked in the jail system. 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. If the Sheriff lacks a full understanding of the Constitution it would stand to reason that he is vulnerable to violation of his oath. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. I will let people know this department is going to be run based on performance and rewards for performance.. 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 . Len Ramirez and Kiet Do contributed to this story. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The associations members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him.. 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. First published on August 7, 2020 / 11:34 AM. | All donations are tax-deductible. 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. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. 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. Shes concerned about declining morale in the office,notingstaffing levels are lowwhich means many employees work mandatory overtime, separating them from their families. For a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team go here. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. "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. These cameras capture vehicle license plates and compare them with Sheriffs Office databases to alert authorities when a plate matches a listing. Santa Clara County Sheriff candidates Kevin Jensen and Bob Jonsen. 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. Allen also wants to address the homophobia and racial inequitieshe sees in the office. If elected, Jensen said he will focus on addressing staffing and morale decline in the sheriffs office, including the correctional facilities. There are some very strong advocates for changes in the jail system, and Im among them, Jensen said. He wants to prioritize building morale in the office, which he said has been low for many years, and to rebuild relationships with the San Jose Police Departmenthe claims Smith neglected. We are not done, he said. It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. 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. The second installment was forestalled by the DA investigation. "This investigation revealed the sad reality that at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office there are 2 policies for those seeking CCW licenses. Sung is now the assistant sheriff for the administrative division. 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. Urena told the council that he is prepared to take on the challenge. Reverend Jeff Moore, the head of the NAACP Silicon Valley Chapter had a CCW permit, but it was never renewed for reasons unknown. (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. I worked with S. Allen at Elmwood (I am nurse). I havent been provided any evidence at this point, but broadly speaking I believe that all of the folks involved were legally able to obtain the permits. 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. 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. 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. Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. 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. 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. This is your newsroom. Neither Smith, who has the sole authority in her agency to grant the gun permits, nor Martin Nielsen an AS Solution manager who provided security for Facebook executives has been charged. 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. The investigation is active and ongoing," said Rosen. 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. Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. I live in Palo Alto, am happy that Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonson is leaving his Palo Alto position. "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. Last . He cited a internal solutions group he helped create inPalo Alto to address issues like morale and promotions. He started his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1989. Capt. 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 been working for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers since 2015. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. Law Enforcement. She is also a veteran, having served for five years as a combat medic and training officer in the army. By Bay City News Published July 16, 2013. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! In 2017, she received $449,767.49 with overtime and benefits, on a $142,530.12 base salary. He spent the bulk of his career27 yearsin the LA County Sheriffs Department, retiring as captain of Lancaster Station. Only 62 applicants received a permit, according to the records. Local News | ALL RIGHT K J!!!!! Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. I was at the sheriff forum and only one candidate said she would uphold the US Constitution.