Locally, only Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco run their own police academies. Marin - Municipal Special Vacancy (City of Mill Valley) Marin - Municipal Special Vacancy (Novato Unified School District) Were journalists for Oakland. The strategy seems to have worked. Please try again later. Yesenia Sanchez has a long career in law enforcement and is hoping to unseat incumbent sheriff Greg Ahern. Deputies patrol and protect the Oakland International Airport, county hospitals such as Highland, two county courthouses located in Oakland, and respond to 911 calls involving AC Transit buses. As sheriff, Sanchez wants to review the offices contracts to build in language so that deputies are not pulled away from the jail to fill positions elsewhere. All rights reserved. "A great deal of work needs to be done to reduce crime while also building public trust effectively," Walker stated. That information is withheld for as long as possible, she said. Reform. Devin Williams Jr., 24, a deputy with . Alameda County. Since most small police agencies do not have their own training academies, the sheriffs office trains recruits who go on to work as police officers throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. Yesenia Sanchez led the race for sheriff-coroner and nearly received the 50%-plus of overall votes needed to win the seat outright after an initial tally of ballots on Tuesday night. Yesenia Sanchez, voters decided in Tuesday's primary elections. I am taking a big step of faith by entering this race that typically is uncontested.. When potential misconduct cases arise involving members of the sheriffs office, the sheriff has the final say on discipline recommended during internal affairs investigations. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Peter Yuan Liu (Nonpartisan) 2018 See also: Municipal elections in Alameda County, California (2018) Nonpartisan primary election I could see the fundraising efforts for Yesenia and I wanted to do something.. Among her supporters are fellow colleagues from the county sheriffs office. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If elected probably would not submit to interviews, this in itself indicates lack of transparency. THIS IS A NEW CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. He spent 12 years working for daily newspapers in the Bay Area, including on the Peninsula and Solano County. Why Oaklanders should care about the countys top seat, and whos running. In one of the most stunning political upsets in Alameda Countys recent political history, Sanchez defeated Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary. Bakersfield, California - City council. The Oaklandside reached out multiple times to Walkers campaign for an interview. Among her key campaign visions, Sanchez lists out rehabilitation of and job training for the jail population, racial justice in law enforcement, community engagement and accountability. Please try again later. Whoever is elected to the seat will be making history - all four candidates are Black, and Alameda County has never had a Black district attorney. No one filed papers to run against Ahern, making his ascension to the job assured. Obituaries, Send News Tips A graduate of Patterson High School in the rural Central Valley town of Patterson, at age 19 Sanchez moved back to Hayward where she had spent her childhood. When theres a death at Santa Rita Jail, for instance, she said the information is not released to the public quickly enough. I am taking a big step of faith by entering this race that typically is uncontested. Ahern trailed with 31.2% and a third candidate, San Francisco police officer JoAnn. ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA Yesenia Sanchez, a 24-year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, has launched a bid to replace Sheriff-Coroner Greg Ahern. Those engagements I believe were really key in making sure some of them felt like they didnt have an opportunity to voice their concerns.. "The Alameda County Sheriffs Department is charged with a complex balance of responsibility interwoven into the fabric of our communities' daily lives," she said, adding: "It is not lost on me how momentous it is that I -- a Black woman -- have taken on the charge to fix and reform how law enforcement services are delivered in Alameda County. Top candidate wins seat. Contra Costa - Special Election. The Dublin facility will be under court monitoring for three years. I think the sheriff was caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Santa Rita Jail and I have a lot of sympathy for what he had to go through there. It is not lost on me how momentous it is that Ia Black womanhave taken on the charge to fix and reform how law enforcement services are delivered in Alameda County, she said on her website. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Congratulations to the new Sheriff-Elect. While many in law enforcement see it as a symbol of solidarity among first responders, the phrase thin blue line was also popularized by William Parker, Los Angeles police chief in the 1950s who was openly racist. Yesenia knows that "we are public. The Oaklandside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. Contributed photos. Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter. During his time at BANG, DeBolt covered Oakland City Hall, the Raiders stadium saga and the As search for a new ballpark, as well as the Oakland Police Department and police reform efforts. Were journalists for Oakland. Alameda County sheriff's deputy Devin Williams Jr., 24, of Stockton, is the suspect in the killing of a married couple inside a Dublin home. FILE ART - Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern makes opening remarks to kick off the first day of Urban Shield at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Ca., on Fri. September 8, 2017. It was the countys first contested sheriffs election since 1986. I am taking a big step of faith by entering this race that typically is uncontested. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Something went wrong. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Peter Yuan Liu (Nonpartisan) Campaign themes 2022 Ballotpedia survey responses (Contributed photo). "It's very clear that I have the qualifications and experience needed to continue on as sheriff," Ahern told the Weekly in a recent interview. Don't miss out on the discussion! 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Your donation goes beyond supporting our journalism. The Sheriff's Office has a current budget of approximately $600 million and has over 1600 authorized positions, including in excess of 1000 sworn personnel. All registered voters will be mailed a Vote by Mail Ballot for this election. Residents are also paying closer attention to police tactics, tools, and accountability for officer misconduct. Your contribution matters. Santa Rita Jail has more than 600 employees and accounts for roughly $300 million of the budget. The candidates for county sheriff-coroner are (from left) incumbent Greg Ahern and challengers Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker. Your donation makes this and all our other local reporting possible. The same information is going to be given to the community.. Ahern out-fundraised and outspent Sanchez on political advertising, and he had high-profile endorsements, including from former Governor Jerry Brown and East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell. "Establishing a community-centered culture that aligns with 21st-century policing practices and values" will be key toward achieving those goals, according to Walker, who did not respond to the Weekly's request for an interview.She calls on her range of assignments while with the SFPD on topics such as terrorism, community relations, field training, peer support counseling, academy instruction, hate crimes, tactical communications, and crisis support and suicide prevention. Her stated top priorities include rehabilitation and job training for incarcerated people, racial justice in law enforcement, holding the sheriffs office accountable, and improving relationships with the community. "I am committed to leading the Alameda County Sheriff's Office with the utmost integrity, serving the community equitably and inclusively, and making sure the Agency ensures safety in the community by investing in it," she added, on her campaign website.The other challenger is Walker, a longtime county resident whose law enforcement experience has been across the Bay as an officer with the San Francisco Police Department. Alameda County sheriff election: Yesenia Sanchez defeats Gregory Ahern City Hall & Policing How Yesenia Sanchez toppled incumbent Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern Sanchez, a sheriff's commander, won 52% of the vote, clinching the primary and sending Ahern into retirement. We saw this cycle in particular up and down the state that party endorsements for candidates on both sides was really decisive. Place a Legal Notice | 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government | | Get tickets to Culture Makers, {{#label}}{{label}}: {{/label}}{{message}}. Walker is running as a progressive alternative to Sheriff Ahern and promises to address the high number of in-custody death at the county jail, increase transparency around the sheriffs budget, and cut the backlog of untested rape kits. Stay in touch with Yesenia and up-to-date on the latest developments in the campaign. Volunteers worked across campaigns, dropping off materials for Sanchez and other progressive candidates, including Alysee Castro, a candidate for county superintendent of schools. Alameda County sheriff's Commander Yesenia Sanchez is the county's new sheriff. Work begins to renovate Chabad building on Hopyard Road, Driver dies in head-on crash on Vasco Road, Planning Commission endorses design plans for mixed-use residential complex at Stoneridge Mall, Bus pass program aims to help people access social services, FDA approves first at-home test for both flu and COVID. A northern California sheriff's department stripped 47 deputies - 10% of the force - of their guns and arrest powers because they failed . Veteran law enforcement officer running to unseat longtime Alameda County sheriff By KTVU staff Published February 23, 2021 Updated 8:34AM Santa Rita Jail KTVU FOX 2 Captain running for Alameda. Terry Wiley 46.8%. Official Election Site of Alameda County. Despite pushback from activists and privacy experts, the sheriff said drones have helped in search and rescue efforts locally and at wildfires, where deputies and coroner staff have been deployed.