Cupertino officials are buying themselves more time in a growing dispute over the cost of law enforcement. The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to extend its contract with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office through Sept. 30, allowing negotiations to continue while an independent review examines whether the county’s proposed cost increase complies with state...
Santa Clara County jail worker who exploited women gets light sentence
A Santa Clara County jail worker who sexually exploited incarcerated women by smuggling in drugs faces just one year behind bars. Marcos Pina Mejia, 56, pleaded guilty June 8 to two felony counts of bringing methamphetamine into Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas and two misdemeanor counts of having sex with a detained person. The civilian, non-sworn...
Santa Clara County report shows jail worker exploited women
A Santa Clara County jail worker sexually exploited incarcerated women in a prolonged pattern that officials are accused of failing to act on for more than a year — allegations the Sheriff’s Office denies. A new report from the county office charged with watchdogging the sheriff and county jails said a male correctional worker, who was...
Santa Clara County sheriff reports drop in use of force cases
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a continuous, year-over-year decline in instances of use of force. Sheriff Bob Jonsen‘s deputies used force on people in the jails and out in the community 603 times last year, a slight decrease from 621 incidents in 2024, according to an annual report for 2025. Deputies killed...
Only two Santa Clara County races are competitive
Several top Santa Clara County officials are running for reelection unchallenged this year — but two incumbents will have to fight for their county-level seats. District Attorney Jeff Rosen and District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas — whose district covers Morgan Hill, Gilroy, unincorporated San Martin and portions of South San Jose — will have to...
Out-of-state police access Silicon Valley license plate readers
The company behind a network of automated license plate reading cameras is losing its public safety contracts across Silicon Valley. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is the most recent slate of officials to join Los Altos Hills and Mountain View in severing ties with Flock Safety over concerns the company has enabled unlawful...
Cupertino’s sheriff contract hike upends budget
Cupertino is looking at a problematic increase in its contract with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, its public safety arm. The situation could force the city to consider a tax increase or budget cuts. Rather than maintain its own police force, Cupertino has always contracted with the sheriff’s office to provide law enforcement. The...
Santa Clara County sheriff won’t release Taser body-cam footage
Santa Clara County leaders promised full transparency when they approved the deployment of Tasers in the jails. Now sheriff’s deputies are using them — and county leaders don’t want the public to see the videos. The county has repeatedly denied California Public Records Act requests by civil rights advocates seeking the body-worn camera footage of...
Silicon Valley civil rights leader sues over sexual harassment claims
Years of sexual harassment allegations have swirled around a correctional officer-turned-leader of one of Silicon Valley’s biggest civil rights groups. He’s suing the Santa Clara County officials who found them credible. A county personnel board last August unanimously found NAACP of San Jose/Silicon Valley President Sean Allen engaged in a pattern of sexually harassing, intimidating and...
Santa Clara County sheriff touts minimal Taser use but wants more
Deputies with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office are reporting minimal Taser usage in jails — arguing they’ve helped curb violent incidents. But watchdogs aren’t convinced amid a push to arm the whole custody bureau. Deputies used Tasers just nine times out of 252 incidents where correctional officers needed to use weapons or brute force...
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