Instead, he implemented an online system by which members of the media and the public submit a form and wait for a callback rather than talk immediately to a watch commander. But convenience was just one of the perks sheriffs aides offered the VIPs. Jennifer Wadsworth is the former news editor for San Jose Inside and Metro Silicon Valley. On a small town road in unincorporated Gilroy on Monday, the deadly opioid crisis reared its head once again. Bob Jonsen, Palo Alto's police chief, is vying for a job once held by his great-uncle, Jonathan Sweigert, who was Santa Clara County sheriff from 1887 to 1891. But absent more evidence, the biggest threat to the sheriff appears to be political rather than criminal. "I was booked, stripped and housed on the same floor where Michael Tyree got murdered," he said, referring to a mentally ill inmate who was beaten to death by sheriff's deputies in 2015. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. He said he would also work to break the cycle of fear and intimidation in the jail, where inmates have created a self-governance culture. to avoid being attacked, she said. Sunday, February 26, 2023. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office - YouTube There's also a need to get more money for social services, she said. Courtesy Bob Jonsen. The city also paid out $135,000 after a Palo Alto officer directed a K-9 to repeatedly bite a man who was sleeping in a shed during a manhunt for a kidnapping suspect.Another man, Julio Arevalo, filed a $10 million federal lawsuit after an officer slammed him to the ground and shattered his eye-socket bone in 2019. Rosen has said more charges are coming in the case. There are other ways to protect confidential information. The sheriff has come under attack after allegations of abuse and mismanagement in the countys jails. Blogs The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) engages the whole community in assessing needs and developing strategies to achieve stronger preparedness, prevention, response, and mitigation capabilities within the Santa Clara County Operational Area. Voters in the June 7 primary will determine which two candidates move on to the general election in November.Under Smith, deputies murdered a mentally ill inmate, and others in custody have been injured, costing the county millions of dollars in settlements. It came with an implicit message: Pay up, and soon youll be packing heat. Even when he caught a red flag, such as out-of-county home addresses on applications handed off by Capt. That would be a violation of state law, which requires a response be given within 90 days. Jonsen has been criticized, however, for a lack of transparency, including his January 2021 decision to encrypt all police radio communications, without warning, which prevents the media and other members of the public from monitoring and independently verifying incidents and police activity. When elected, I will end this policy within the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office," she said.Communities of colorNagaye's husband is of Japanese ancestry and they have biracial daughters. Jonsen served as Chief of Police for the City of Palo Alto prior to his election. Richard Glennon. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office - Wikipedia He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. Santa Clara County voters will choose between five candidates for sheriff in the June 2022 primary election. Jonsen also touted his efforts to engage with every person on his staff, initiating a one-on-one meeting to gauge their training and experience and areas where they need to improve. Jensen, you would just stick it in a filing cabinet?. He would search for management-level staff outside of the department when hiring to break up cronyism, he said. I see the problems on a day-to-day basis and problems the deputies face," she said. Regarding the office's use of its budget, Nagaye said that if elected, "I would hire a forensic accountant to find out where the pitfalls are with money. Who'll be Santa Clara County's new sheriff? Five candidates seek top About Us - Office of Emergency Management - County of Santa Clara "The number one change she would make as sheriff is increasing transparency. Lets see what the truth is.. 26205 requires sheriffs to process CCW petitions within 90 days of receiving them or a month after clearing a backgroundwhichever comes later. Sentencing in such a case could normally result in her removal from office, but the sheriff's surprise resignation two months before the end of her sixth term makes that punishment moot. He has served in patrol, the gang unit, as a reserve training officer, administrative training officer, emergency response team leader and training officer, housing unit training officer in the jails and academy instructor. "One of the first things he would do is work on changing the culture in law enforcement toward being forthcoming about bad players and incidents they see while on the job. Uploaded: Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 12:04 pm Allen said he would also focus on proper training of deputies in de-escalation techniques so that uses of force and weapons are last responses. As a sergeant in the jails, he has trained officers in de-escalation techniques to better handle inmates in crisis. Palo Alto Online So they were always kind of pending.. Jonsen served as chief with Palo Alto Police Department starting in 2018, following five years as police . Santa Clara County sheriff won't resign, OKs investigation - Los Sussman says the Fentanyl Working Group has made strides in reactionary measures like having Narcan more readily available. I understand the complexities," he said.He is the only candidate who has been at the helm of a law-enforcement agency, he noted.Some of his initiatives in Palo Alto include forming a community advisory committee, which helped inform his relationship with residents and to understand their concerns. Sign up for our. She's used competitive body building to push herself to new heights. Otherwise, "we're going to continue to fail those human beings," he said. He would increase contracts with service providers and faith-based organizations to provide mental health assistance. That's why I'm great for this position. "Regional systems like SVRIA (Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority) would need to have a voice in the regional interoperability considerations as well. And the issue that has drawn the strongest scrutiny is the sheriffs allocation of concealed-carry weapon permits, the licenses that allow civilians to legally carry handguns in public. The indictment also contends, via seven felony charges against Jensen of falsifying paperwork, that some applicants didnt even have to go to the gun range to show that they knew how to safely use their firearms. Even if force is used, I have high expectations that my officers know the laws," he said. They declined to speak on camera, but they told us the fentanyl crisis is truly getting out of hand. In the 20 years I've been in this agency I only used pepper spray one time and I was ordered to use it," she said.During her training sessions, Nagaye said she focuses on getting deputies to stop thinking about "going hands on" with inmates as a first resort. Jensen also reportedly took private meetings with VIP applicants outside the Sheriffs Office, sometimes at a nearby Starbucks or Jamba Juice on Coleman Avenue. "Between enforcement and custody, there are 1,200 deputies, but it's rare to see someone in an executive position come down and talk to the people. "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age. The DOJ doesn't require blanket encryption and allows for workarounds, but Jonsen did not create any, community critics have said.The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office also encrypts its radio communications.The city has also faced a number of lawsuits during Jonsen's tenure, alleging excessive use of force by Palo Alto officers. The department is also documenting microaggressions to track hate-incident patterns to proactively intervene before they escalate to crimes.Everyone deserves equal protection "regardless of their ZIP code," he said.As sheriff, he said, he would continue community policing and engage in outreach to help all areas of the community.The most important quality he wants in his deputies"Compassion, respect and integrity. "I think we just need to not just work on the reactive piece, that means getting Narcan into people's hands, but really work on the preventive piece of reducing supply and demand and make sure that people have access to treatment if they developed an addiction," Sussman said. The grand jury convened July 20 of this year and handed down its indictments Aug. 6. A high number of mentally ill and the unhoused need more access to social services, education, treatment and housing, she said. "We have to earn it. Among the apparent beneficiaries of that privilege was County Supervisor Mike Wasserman. to avoid being attacked, she said. He was also the risk and information-sharing program manager for the Urban Area Security Initiative and was tasked with terrorism prevention, mitigation, response and recovery for the 12-county Bay Area region. When elected, I will end this policy within the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office," she said. Woman killed in motorcycle crash on San Antonio Road, Community briefs: Affordable housing project groundbreaking, planning for the future of COVID vaccines and the DA's annual awards, Newsom rescinds COVID state of emergency. Most are honest and do have integrity. Courtesy photos. Updated: Jan 14, 2022 / 10:59 PM PST. She would also make sure that all officers rotate among enforcement and custody positions so they have a well-rounded view of inmates and a broad range of experiences. When an application would come in, Cooks said hed notify Glennon or one of their superiors and that was usually the extent of his involvement. "Your job is never retribution," he said. He has worked for a sizable chunk of his career in the same jail where he was once incarcerated as a scared teenager.Allen, 51, is a 32-year veteran and sergeant of the sheriff's office. Who better to have in place to find where this money is going? The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office was founded in 1850, making it one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the State of California. Related Articles At Brakers prompting, Glennon explained how a applying for a CCW should work versus how it actually worked during his few-year tenure in the unit that processed them. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office also encrypts its radio communications. 12K followers. Jensen, whose wife is Hispanic, said he would sit down with members of the public, particularly the underserved, to work on problems and gain trust. She enlisted in the U.S. Army at 19, became a medic and served five years of active duty. Mountain View City Council kicks off process of identifying priority projects for next two years. David Sanders, the CEO of a Santa Clara computer services firm and a campaign contributor to Sheriff Laurie Smith, opened the trunk of his car and pointed to his handgun. ", VIDEO: 'Injecting Hope' | Watch documentary on innovative program tackling drug overdose, fentanyl epidemic. We spoke with a group of friends at the home who said they were going to visit one of the victims in the hospital. In a unique alliance, Paula Canny an attorney who represented the families of Hogan and Michael Tyree, an inmate who was beaten to death by three correctional deputies in 2018, in litigation against the Sheriffs Office and the county supported Smith. The Department is divided into four major bureaus Field Operations, Support Services, Jail Operations and Administrative Services. General Contact Information: Main Number: (408) 299-5151 Media Line: (408) 299-5119 Office of the County Executive Even after a finding of innocence, his arrest haunted him each time he applied for a job, he said. Still, Smith remains the most intriguing figure and the biggest enigma in the case. By showing our complete transparency, it's going to build trust in the community again. Jensen told you to say? Braker asked. The change meant that disputes that involve two officers including an incident in which a police captain was accused of using a racial slur would be privately investigated by the Human Resources Department and screened from the public. This was how the process worked until last year when the processing of new concealed-carry weapon permits was halted amid the DA investigation. Attorney Directory - Office of the District Attorney - County of Santa Clara Home FAQ Attorney Directory Attorney Directory District Attorney Jeffrey F. Rosen Phone: (408) 299-3099 Fax: (408) 287- 5076 Email: jrosen@dao.sccgov.org Read More Chief Assistant District Attorney Jay Boyarsky Phone: (408) 299-3099 Email: jboyarsky@dao.sccgov.org To qualify for a concealed gun permit in California, an applicant must have good character, a valid reason and live in the county where its issued. Be patient.. Community Calendar Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office - Instagram County of Santa Clara. TownSquare If the board of supervisors says 'Why are you doing this?' The guards were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017. 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. He would be going to a lot of the lunches. On December 15, 1998, Laurie Smith became the 28th person to hold the position of sheriff in Santa Clara County, California and the first woman law enforcement officer to hold the office of sheriff in the history of California. Jonsen pointed to his years of experience as a chief and leader of law enforcement organizations that depend on professional experience to thrive. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He was also the risk and information-sharing program manager for the Urban Area Security Initiative and was tasked with terrorism prevention, mitigation, response and recovery for the 12-county Bay Area region. Nielsen testified that the shooting was the 9/11 of Silicon Valley, where a lot of clients started to want to have armed personnel. It was also a big opportunity for security professionals: Among the firms clients were executives with Facebook. For example, when he worked on the Polly Klaas murder case, Jensen said he needed to have self-control. Sean Allen He's experienced both sides of law enforcementWhen he was 19 years old, Sean Allen was wrongfully accused, briefly incarcerated and ultimately exonerated in Santa Clara County for a crime he didn't commit. "Regional systems like SVRIA (Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority) would need to have a voice in the regional interoperability considerations as well. After attending high school in Novato, he spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox. Voters in the June 7 primary will determine which two candidates move on to the general election in November. "Don't be afraid to bring someone else in," she said, to help de-escalate or assess the situation.She supports California legislative bill SB 2, which creates a statewide system to revoke the license of a police officer who commits serious misconduct, and SB 16, which requires disclosure of a sustained finding of excessive use of force if an officer failed to intervene when another officer used unreasonable or excessive force.She would also make sure that all officers rotate among enforcement and custody positions so they have a well-rounded view of inmates and a broad range of experiences.Nagaye supports funding a mental health wellness center over building a new jail. Endorsements: Police chiefs and top law enforcement including those in Los Altos and Menlo Park; multiple members of Jonsen's community advisory group, among others. "Jensen said he grew up in a dysfunctional household with a troubled father who ended up incarcerated. Jonsen said he worked hard during the pandemic to retain a dedicated public information officer to address media inquiries, but budget cuts eliminated the position. He took the action due to a 2020 Department of Justice directive that prohibits the public dissemination of personally identifiable information such as names and driver's license numbers. Woman killed in motorcycle crash on San Antonio Road, Community briefs: Affordable housing project groundbreaking, planning for the future of COVID vaccines and the DA's annual awards, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT). Nagaye, 50, has been with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for 20 years and has been a supervising sergeant for six years. When asked for his stance on whether full encryption of radio communications is necessary, Allen said: "Radio encryption is just another way to prevent being transparent by law-enforcement agencies. He looks for people who are willing to do the right thing even if it's not popular, he said. The more honest you are, the easier we can approach it. This is the official Youtube channel of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Jensen, who remained involved in CCW issuance even after getting promoted out of the PIO unit. Last week, two members of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors called for an investigation into Smith and the Sheriffs Office after the injuries and deaths of jail inmates. Smith said during a news conference that an in-depth review is necessary to get the true facts.. Emergency: 9-1-1; Emergency and Non-Emergency Number from all phones: (408) 299 - 2311; General Information from cellular phone: (408) 808 - 4400 Your contribution matters. A job prospect led him to San Jose, where his wife spotted a recruitment sign for deputy sheriffs. While she fights the charges against her, Smith, 69, has decided not to run for reelection in the 2022 race after 24 years at the helm.The sheriff oversees more than $188 million and 711 staff members (and an additional 1,080 staff and $200.6 million for the Department of Corrections). 'No one is above the law': Former sheriff found guilty of corruption I represent the diversity of Santa Clara County. But a short time later, their cover was blown although it would take months more before the sheriffs office realized it. 2023 Mountain View Online. Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows There have been twenty-eight persons serving in the capacity of Sheriff since 1850. "We rewrote and reworked the policy to make sense for this day and age.