Less than six weeks after his predecessor resigned during a corruption scandal, sheriff-elect Robert “Bob” Jonsen was appointed to take the position a month earlier than expected after a vote Tuesday by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Jonsen, who was elected last month with 50.81% of the vote, will assume the title of interim sheriff this week before he’s sworn in as the county’s top law enforcement officer on Jan. 2. The retired Palo Alto police chief and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s captain will become the first new sheriff in Santa Clara County since 1998.
“We are not here choosing who the sheriff is going to be. The voters have cast the votes to choose a new sheriff for Santa Clara County and currently we do not have an elected sheriff,” said Supervisor Otto Lee, who represents District 3. “There is a lot of healing to repair the distractions that need to happen in the Sheriff’s Office and the sheriff-elect should be given the opportunity to start that healing now.”
Hours after the move, Jonsen said he was “very excited” to get an earlier-than-expected start to his tenure. He expects to be sworn in as interim sheriff as early as Thursday, the same day officials expect to certify the election results.
Jonsen said the early-start idea didn’t come from him, but rather from county supervisors who wanted the incoming sheriff to start as soon as possible and provide input more quickly on several looming initiatives. They include a move to possibly end the practice of hiring security guards at libraries, hospitals and other county-owned venues — meaning the sheriff’s office would provide those services itself.
In addition, the county is considering whether to equip deputies with stun guns and whether to broaden the use of body-worn cameras, Jonsen said.
“It’s a great opportunity to get in and start moving the organization to where it needs to be,” Jonsen said in an interview Tuesday. “I’m very appreciative to get in a month early.”
The early appointment came after six-term sheriff Laurie Smith resigned on Oct. 31 amidst a corruption trial based on charges made by a civil grand jury. Despite pleas from her attorney to end the trial after her resignation, Smith was found guilty on six counts stemming from the case on Nov. 3. The trial carried no potential punishment other than Smith’s removal from office. Smith was first elected in 1998.
With a cloud of corruption probes and legal woes hanging over her head, Smith had already announced in March that she would not seek re-election.
In November, undersheriff Ken Binder was named acting sheriff until the newly elected sheriff was sworn into office.
“This is just the first step in getting back that trust that has been lost over the years,” Lee said. “I encourage the sheriff-elect to hold community forums and meet with community leaders throughout the county as soon as possible. With these sessions we hope to increase transparency and regain the trust of the people.”
Jonsen enters the office after a successful run as an “outsider” candidate from the Nov. 8 election, where he defeated retired sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Jensen. His platform stressed an importance on transparency for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, bettering the county’s mental health response and balancing the department’s budget.
On Tuesday, Jonsen said one of his top priorities is to create advisory groups for improved community input on sheriff’s office matters, which he plans to accomplish within his first six months.
Source: www.mercurynews.com