canyonwalker | Kevin Jensen is more qualified (Reply)

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Kevin Jensen, one of the candidates for Santa Clara County Sheriff, ran against Laurie Smith years ago. This was long before widespread awareness of Smith's appalling policies. Jensen lost but did surprisingly well, considering the general public didn't know what was going on.

Just because Jensen worked in Laurie Smith's department doesn't mean we should tar him with the same brush. If you compare his campaign statements to those of Robert Jonsen, you will perhaps agree Kevin Jensen is more in touch with the needs of Santa Clara County. Kevin Jensen knows the ins and outs of the department, which will help him decide who should stay and who should go.

Robert Jonsen spent 26 years in law enforcement in the Antelope Valley region of Los Angeles. During this time the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division released findings of stops, searches, and seizures, and excessive force against minorities. To be fair, the Antelope Valley stations agreed to revamp their policies. Eventually their minority outreach efforts won an award. Jonsen got credit for the award, I believe.

Jonsen essentially retired to Palo Alto when he became chief of police there in 2018. Law enforcement in Palo Alto and Menlo Park is a far cry from the challenges facing all of Santa Clara County. If you want to hear what both Jensen and Jonson, as well as all the other initial sheriff's office candidates said early in the race, you can watch SVPAF's May 5, 2022, candidate forum video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu4BBRpoR4I