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Health & Fitness

12 Retired Police Executives Will Not Endorse Incumbent Sheriff Laurie Smith in June 3 Election

Group Backs Kevin Jensen for Sheriff of Santa Clara County  

Voters will determine the future of public safety in Santa Clara County on Tuesday, June 3. 

A group of police executives averaging 30 years each with law enforcement experience, most of which has been within this county, strongly feels that it is time to restore leadership, integrity, transparency, interagency cooperation and collaboration to the 0ffice of the Sheriff. 

We endorse Kevin Jensen for Sheriff. Under Jensen’s leadership, the Sheriff’s Office will regain its reputation for inclusiveness, openness, fairness, and teamwork.

He is a highly respected law enforcement professional within the county and throughout the state. He has demonstrated continuous leadership throughout his 28 years with the Sheriff's Office with assignments in the courts, jail, patrol, traffic, community services and investigations. 

His positive interaction with local law enforcement agencies and his ability to work very well with others in the prevention and reduction of crime will enhance the public safety. His integrity is without reproach. He galvanizes and works with many different segments of the community to actually solve issues, improving the respect of all citizens. 

All of us have worked with Sheriff Smith in one capacity or another over the years and have seen first hand how she operates. 

• MISMANAGING CASES: We believe that Sheriff Smith has mismanaged a number of high-profile cases including, but not limited to, the tragic Audrie Potts sexual assault, cyber-bullying, and suicide case; the Sierra LaMar kidnapping investigation and the PG&E substation attack. Her actions, or lack thereof, not only hampered investigations, but also quite probably had a negative effect on the outcomes. 

Additionally, San Francisco 49er Aldon Smith’s case serves as a very clear example of how she puts the welfare of significant campaign donors, public figures, and members of the Sheriff’s Advisory Board before the law and the best interests of the public.

• FAILING TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES: All law enforcement agencies must collaborate and work together in today's world. Smith seldom participates in inter-agency programs unless she gets her way. 

She uses budgetary constraints as her excuse for pulling Sheriff's personnel out of inter-agency task forces, yet she has provided privileges such as helicopter rides and firearms training at the county’s firing range to her friends, public figures and campaign donors at county expense.  

• WASTING MONEY TO SEND DEPUTIES TO FAR-OFF TRAININGS: Smith has also needlessly spent thousands of taxpayers’ dollars to send her staff to training all over California and elsewhere because she does not want to send them to the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Academy in San Jose.

This academy, which is certified by the California Police Officers of Standards and Training Commission, provides in-service and recruit training to numerous other law enforcement agencies in the area. 

The Sheriff’s academy also provides recruit training. It is apparent that she believes that the South Bay academy competes with the Sheriff’s Academy and as a result, she will spend extra dollars on lodging, transportation and meals to send her staff to other parts of California instead.

• MANAGING DEPUTIES BY FEAR AND INTIMIDATION: We are very concerned about the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. They work tirelessly every day, putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. It is just not right for them to have to work under a sheriff who operates with fear and intimidation and who continually says or does things that do nothing but demoralize them.  

When over 90 percent of the Sheriff’s Office employees voiced support for Kevin Jensen, it was the first time in almost 35 years that employees did not back the incumbent. Not only did Smith refer to them as “Keystone Cops,” she also blamed the Deputy Sheriff’s Association for manipulating her staff rather than accept the fact that members of her department are desperately seeking new leadership and a fresh vision for the future.

What is even more indicative of her response to those who speak out against her is that the vote of the employees, unlike in previous years, was done by secret ballot because her staff knew from experience the retribution that would certainly result if Sheriff Smith found out who did not vote to support her.

We encourage the members of the community who want a Sheriff they can be proud of to vote for Kevin Jensen on June 3.  



Tom Brewer, retired Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office Chief Investigator and San Jose Police Department Captain 

Lacey Burt, retired Menlo Park Police Commander

Lucy Carlton, retired Los Altos Police Chief

John Costa, retired Palo Alto Police Sergeant

Bruce Cumming, retired Morgan Hill Police Chief

Steve Cushing, retired Undersheriff Santa Clara County

Ed Flores, retired Chief of Department of Corrections, Santa Clara County

Alana Forrest, retired Los Gatos/ Monte Sereno Police Commander

Lynne Johnson, retired Palo Alto Police Chief   

Kathy McKenna, retired Palo Alto Police Captain

Tim Morgan, retired Palo Alto Police Lieutenant

Cathy Wayne, retired CHP Commander, San Jose Area Command  

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