"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. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Nielsens cooperation with the DA was affirmed in the grand jury transcripts, in which he testified that he understood he was still subject to potential misdemeanor charges even if he helped the prosecution. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. As the new captain assigned to the West Valley patrol division, Im committed to the legacy weve built here in the city of Cupertino, he said. 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. Santa Clara County sheriff-elect Bob Jonsen will take office early after Board of Supervisors vote Jonsen, who was elected sheriff with 50.81% of the vote in November, will become the. Civil/Warrants - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara 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. How safe is your neighborhood? Sheriff Smith has consistently declined to comment on year-and-a-half-long probe. We know Kevin Jensen as a person and we understand his leadership qualities, Ryan Elder, president of the association, told San Jos Spotlight. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. The ABC7 News I-Team asked Le to provide a comment but she declined. 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. Sheriff Campaign Scandal: 4 Indicted in Concealed Carry 'Pay to Play The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. 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. Prosecutors expected to get alleged De Anza rape case She would combat this by setting up a retention program. I am a mom, wife, a veteran, LGBTQ+ ally and I understand the diversity of Santa Clara County, Nagaye said. 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. Allen says he stands out from his opponents because hes spent much of his career openly criticizing the office. At a Cupertino City Council meeting on Aug. 2, Ken Binder, former division commander, introduced Urena and described him as an experienced officer, ready for the new role. Every captain thats worked on this side of town has made an impact with the community. The following month, Nielsen and AS Solution, Inc. CEO Christian West met with Nichols, Hahal, and attorney Christopher Scumb at the Sainte Claire Club in San Jose, where Schumb described his fundraising work for Sheriff Smith and told Nielsen to seek out then Sheriff's Lieutenant James Jensen at the Best in the West SWAT competition. So I can ask them about the SJ Search and Rescue team and how we can support the new sherriff. A sheriff sergeant with almost 30 years of service in the office, Sean Allen said his platform boils down to transparency, accountability and reform. 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. 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. And its not because I can give them any promotions or instantly solve their problemsits because Ive earned their trust over a long period of time.. 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. Political action committees for the Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association supported Jensens campaign when he ran against Smith in 2014. (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. If elected, Jensen said he will focus on addressing staffing and morale decline in the sheriffs office, including the correctional facilities. 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. Headquarters Patrol - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara And were here to provide it. 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. In a lawsuit filed Nov. 13 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Amy Le says the Sheriff's Office effectively forced her to resign in retaliation for alerting higher-ups about a female lieutenant's sexual harassment complaint against a high-ranking officer. Instead, the application would be filed away and forgotten. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. Ex-CEO pleads guilty in Santa Clara County gun-permit case Five candidates are jockeying for Smiths seat. She needs to leave and take the stench shes created with her. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. If they dont get this then they are oblivious and are incapable of doing a good job if elected. Santa Clara County Sherif As we gather more evidence, we expect to file more charges against more individuals in the coming weeks. Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. She resigned as sheriff on . A former manager for a security company who implicated a Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain and others in an alleged bribery scheme to trade political donations supporting the sheriff in exchange for concealed-carry weapons has testified in the civil corruption trial . Between 2014 and 2018, 749 Santa Clara County residents applied for a new CCW permit, according to records provided by the sheriffs department. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. Take a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team. So he is also a liar. I will always remember my oath to protect and servethat will be my ultimate oath, and thats why Im running for sheriff.. In addition to bribery, the indictment accuses Jensen of conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. "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. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Captain James Jensen among 4 people indicted by grand jury yesterday according to DA Jeff Jensen @nbcbayarea. 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. Santa Clara County Corrections Capt. Amy Le Put on Paid Leave Jensen, 58, retired in 2013. 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.. If convicted could get 11 years in prison. "CCW licenses should not be given out in exchange for campaign donations. The Civil Warrants Division serves Civil process in the manner prescribed by law. Click hereif you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device. Office of the Sheriff - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) A retired captain for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is joining the race to become the next sheriff, now the second opponent looking to unseat current. 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 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.. We were all stuck at home for COVID, and we didnt have really any kind of property crime because everyone was home. Smiths tenure as sheriff has been marred by scandals and political investigations. Le has been one of the most well-paid Santa Clara County employees for years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. 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. 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. She also served in the offices operational standards and inspections unit and worked at both Elmwood and the main jail. You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. She has spent months fending off attacks from the Board of Supervisors, which voted no confidence in her leadership. He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. Before that, he was chief of police in Menlo Park for five years. We are a bit troubled by the words overwhelmingly and unanimously (and others) when it comes to any voting. Here are the five candidates running for sheriff in alphabetical order. We have seen such words used when the City Council has voted. Kevin Jensen, a retired captain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, is running to replace Laurie Smith. Photo courtesy of Kevin Jensen. Office Hours. County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer - County of Santa Clara "They should not be for sale. 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. 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding party Santa Clara County sheriff's captain among 4 indicted on felony bribery 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of sheriff office's West Valley Between 2014 and 2019, only about 150 permits were issued or renewed in Santa Clara County. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "It's been something of an open secret within the firearms community," Long said. New sheriff adds Realtor to her command staff None of the PIOs who testified could recall an instance where they personally witnessed Smith signing an approved permit, according to the transcripts. Len Ramirez and Kiet Do contributed to this story. Smiths office granted concealed gun permits to 22 of those 28 applicants, an approval rate of about 79%. 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. He plans to implement greater civilian oversight in the jail systeman outstanding concern among county officials. "If she's doing something that's unfair and unjust, she owes it to this community to step down," said Moore. Capt. Allen also wants to address the homophobia and racial inequitieshe sees in the office. 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. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 31. 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. The culture of management can no longer be one of fear and intimidation.. Our jail is among the 100 systems nationwide with an inmate population of more than 1,000. Sources close to the case tell the ABC7 News I-Team that the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Amy Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. 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.". Moreover, he doesn't have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. Hope Now we get a real sherriff elected. Sheriffs Capt. Source: https://nationallibertyalliance.org/files/sheriffmemo/Power%20and%20Authority%20of%20The%20County%20Sheriff.pdf. Only 62 applicants received a permit, according to the records. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. 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. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. He cited a internal solutions group he helped create inPalo Alto to address issues like morale and promotions. They could spend time in prison if they are convicted. Capt. Sheriff Bob Jonsen has been in law enforcement since 1986. Rosen said his office's probe was triggered by a San Jose Inside article focusing on a large 2018 contribution to Smith's campaign. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer Charged with Gun Permit Bribery Scheme. And if she feels that . Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. CBS. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office West Valley Division. 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. 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. However, if you are in the words of sheriff's Captain James Jenson a VIP, then he will meet you at Starbucks, personally review your application and help you fill it out. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. He is unlikely to be any better than the current Sherriff. Santa Clara County Sheriff Sgt. Harry Stern, Jensens attorney, reiterated that Jensen did not have the power to grant the concealed-gun permits. Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. 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. 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. The side of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office vehicle is pictured in this file photo. Colton is a latecomer to the race, having filed her nomination papers in March. In addition Robert Johnson has done his best to avoid transparency. The department also said it's monitoring the situation and has no additional information to provide at this time. Laurie Smith (born June 21, 1952) was the 28th Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California, serving from 1998 until her early retirement in 2022 when under indictment for corruption. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. California sheriff suspended after inmates make her a BBQ grill Both Smith and Undersheriff Rick Sung invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when they appeared before a criminal grand jury Aug. 3, and refused to answer any questions about the scandal, according to transcripts of the proceedings. Were partnering with you the readers to make it happen. "My concern is not whether the sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," Rosen said. 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. Saying yes, but doing NO. Sean Allen. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. Transcripts show the county supervisor blamed a chronically bad memory for his inability to recall whether he fulfilled the proficiency requirements. This is your newsroom. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Election 2022 candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff: retired Palo Alto police chief Bob Jonsen (left) and retired sheriff's captain Kevin Jensen. I would love to serve in that role.. 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. He became captain in 2004 and retired in 2013. Im the candidate that brings the fresh perspective and greatest opportunity for change.. 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. Santa Clara Co. sheriff's captain among 4 indicted on conspiracy charges Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. The county has a similar program, but Jonsen wants to expand it to meet greater demand. 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. At Best in the West, according to the indictment, Nichols introduced Nielsen to Jensen, where they agreed to a deal where AS Solution's agents would receive CCW permits in exchange for a large donation to the Sheriff's campaign. Ricardo "Rich" Urena has been tapped to replace . The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. Local News | Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. West Valley Detectives. Election 2022: The vote for a new South Bay sheriff Christine Nagaye wants to transform theoffice into a national role model. Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. Christine Nagaye, Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen and sheriff Sgt. The transcripts also contain testimony from three former and current sheriffs public information officers outlining a haphazard process with inconsistent criteria on who got the rarely-issued weapons permits.
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