Voters have the rare opportunity to decide a competitive race for Alameda County sheriff-coroner as incumbent Greg Ahern is being challenged by two candidates, sheriff's office Division Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco Police Department Officer JoAnn Walker. 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. 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. Ahern has endorsements from sheriffs all over California, along with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., former Gov. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2012 where he covered a variety of beats, most recently as a senior breaking news reporter. Thank you. It was no brakes, full speed ahead. We amplify community voices, share the power of real information, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. With help from county Democratic party leaders, volunteers fanned out throughout the county, hitting farmers markets and knocking on doors from Albany to Fremont. Members of the office work throughout Alameda County in multiple offices and substations, serving about 150,000 residents in unincorporated areas in the Tri-Valley, San Leandro, Hayward, and Castro Valley. Yesenia is a 24 year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriffs Office who wants to make transformational change through community engagement and investment, rehabilitation of the jail population, and a focus on accountability. JoAnn Walker did not respond to Weekly's request for an interview. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Can Oakland become a filmmaking hub? Reform. Yesenia Sanchez, voters decided in Tuesday's primary elections. Voters have the rare opportunity to decide a competitive race for Alameda County sheriff-coroner as incumbent Greg Ahern is being challenged by two candidates . Terry Wiley 46.8%. Voter Guide for California Midterm Elections 2022. I am ready to declare victory.. For years, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office hired candidates even after they were declared "Not Suited" in their psychological exams, according to the letter. Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. Marshals for housing people the federal agency has arrested at the county jail. In those times, the countys top cop can make emergency declarations and seek disaster funding through the state. Those reports by pathologists determine the cause of death and can be crucial pieces of evidence and used in investigations, including people killed by the police. Special Pubs Blogs In one of the most stunning political upsets in Alameda Countys recent political history, Sanchez defeated Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary. by David DeBolt June 15, 2022 If a deputy working one of those assignments goes out on injury or another type of leave, deputies from the jail are used to backfill those positions. Yesenia Sanchez wants to train inmates, rehabilitate, etc., etc. 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. The lawsuit settlement followed a highly critical report by the U.S. Justice Department which found that Alameda Countys mental health care system is unconstitutional and that Santa Rita Jail is overcrowded, understaffed, and endangers detainees. Voters have the rare opportunity to decide a competitive race for Alameda County sheriff-coroner as incumbent Greg Ahern is being challenged by two candidates, sheriff's office Division Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco Police Department Officer JoAnn Walker. Gavin Newsom for cameras to aid in quick response and investigations into freeway shootings. The same information is going to be given to the community.. That is not something we should be doing.. She fell into a civilian technician job in the sheriffs department, and later a sworn position because she needed more stable employment. Your donation goes beyond supporting our journalism. The candidates are GREGORY J. AHERN, Incumbent, YESENIA SANCHEZ, Alameda County Sheriff Commander, and JOANN WALKER, Police Officer / Educator. State law only allows for people with law enforcement certifications to run for the elected office of sheriff. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office stripped 47 deputies of their arresting powers and firearms after an audit determined they should not have been hired in the first place because they failed . A lot of people tell you, dont forget where you are from, Sanchez said in an interview with The Oaklandside. Sign up for The Oaklandsides free daily newsletter. Contributed photos. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Contact Us DanvilleSanRamon.com, About Us Contra Costa - Special Election. He is an opponent of establishing civilian oversight of his office, an idea that is currently being explored by the Board of Supervisors and community groups. I think it is time for a new person to come in.. He was part of the East Bay Times staff honored with the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for coverage of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire. Sanchez will replace outgoing Sheriff Gregory J. Ahern, whom she defeated and made history in the November 2022 election. Until now. The agency's Chief Executive Officer is Sheriff / Coroner Yesenia L. Sanchez, who is assisted in the operation of the agency by Undersheriff Richard T. Lucia, Assistant Sheriffs Emmanuel Christy, and Colby Staysa. 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. She worked three jobs at a used car dealership, the Oakland airport, and McDonalds. Candidates must have completed their probationary period as a Sergeant in the Alameda County Sheriff's Office AND possess the following: Either The equivalent of eighteen months of experience in the class of Sergeant with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. 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. Walker, a progressive alternative, made a splash announcing her campaign for sheriff along with civil rights attorney Pamela Prices run for district attorney. All rights reserved. Now Yesenia Sanchez is Alameda Countys new sheriff. The sheriffs cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would only happen if there were a criminal warrant for someone signed by a judge, she said. Sign up to be among the first to get our daily local news headlines sent to your inbox for free. Uploaded: Thu, May 19, 2022, 5:41 pm Outspent by Ahern by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, Sanchezs campaign turned to volunteers in the final weeks before election day. Under a system called mutual aid, deputies are often brought in to assist Oakland police during large demonstrations and protests. But Sanchezs grassroots campaign focused on flipping precincts in places Ahern has traditionally had more support. "Devin Williams was the catalyst," Lieutenant Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office told CNN. If elected, she would request independent investigations of in-custody deaths at Santa Rita Jail. Learn more. She should consider a position in San Quentin. Although the candidates have a range of public endorsements, especially Ahern and Sanchez, with three names on the ballot and a 50%-plus-one majority required to win the four-year term outright in the June 7 election, it's a possibility the sheriff's seat could be decided in a November runoff in the end. ""Provided by Terry Wiley campaign; Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle; Provided by Seth. The advocates who want to have this oversight are the same people who previously said dont spend any money on the sheriffs office, it should be used for social causes. Civilian oversight, he said, would cost $1 million a year. Mike Kusiak of Castro Valley led a group of six volunteers in his unincorporated town. Time to read: about 4 minutes, The candidates for county sheriff-coroner are (from left) incumbent Greg Ahern and challengers Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker. Then over the past two decades, she rose through the ranks of the sheriffs office to become the commander of Santa Rita Jail. The candidates for county sheriff-coroner are (from left) incumbent Greg Ahern and challengers Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker. Shes worked at the now-defunct North County Jail both as a technician and lieutenant, on patrol assignments, and as a captain in support services. Learn more. De La Fuente told The Oaklandside that Ahern kept a quiet presence, even with his department under fire about deaths at the jail and his other public controversies. Greg Pak Police Officer at San Francisco International . Alameda County Sheriff's Commander Yesenia Sanchez (pictured at left) and San Francisco police Officer JoAnn Walker (pictured at right) are running against Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary election. Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. David DeBolt reported on City Hall and policing for The Oaklandside. PUBLISHED: May 10, 2022 at 5:30 a.m. | UPDATED: May 10, 2022 at 5:39 a.m. Yesenia Sanchez is running for Alameda County Sheriff/Coroner. (Contributed photos). The sheriff said hes proud of the work his office has done to help people overcome drug addiction, expand vocational programs within Santa Rita Jail to help incarcerated people find work once released, and youth sports programs the office has funded. All rights reserved. JoAnn Walker is a 26-year law enforcement veteran and she possesses all of the requisite credentials and experience to earn the trust of the electors to become the next sheriff of Alameda County. In early 2021, it appeared that Ahern was going to call it quits. You can register here. Ahern ran that year unopposed and was elected. Devin Williams Jr., 24, a deputy with . She noted that before her leadership tenure, Santa Rita Jail had come "under federal oversight for its historic poor treatment of incarcerated people, inmate deaths, and low accountability.". The sheriff has faced backlash over his cooperation with federal immigration agents, the controversial Urban Shield training program, which critics said focused more on the militarization of police and tactics viewed as oppressive to communities of color instead of a focus on disaster preparedness, and problems at Santa Rita Jail, which were highlighted in a federal civil rights investigation over the treatment of detainees with mental health issues, and two class-action suits. Sanchez, who is currently the commander of Santa Rita Jail, clinched the primary election with 52% of the vote, becoming the first female and first Latina sheriff in the agencys 169-year history. "As a 26-year law enforcement veteran, my career has given me keen insight into strategies that work, versus strategies that look good on paper. The three candidates are running to lead an office that has far-reaching and wide-ranging responsibilities, a $550 million budget, and 1,000 sworn deputies and professional staff. 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. Uploaded: Thu, May 19, 2022, 5:41 pm Jerry Brown, Congressman Eric Swalwell, District Attorney Nancy OMalley, Supervisors Nate Miley and David Haubert, more than two dozen California county sheriffs, and former Oakland police chiefs Wayne Tucker, Sean Whent, and Anne Kirkpatrick. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2012 where he covered a variety of beats, most recently as a senior breaking news reporter. 228,954 votes. For the first time in decades, there is a competitive race for the powerful position of Alameda sheriff, the countys top cop. ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) One of the candidates for Alameda County Sheriff held a meet and greet in Hayward on Saturday. Sheriff Gregory J. Ahern, who has held the office since the previous sheriff retired and endorsed him in 2006, faces two challengers on the June 7 primary ballot: Alameda Sheriffs Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco police Officer JoAnn Walker. Virtually all correctional budgets went to staff that operated traditional prisons, jails and reform schools. Sanchez held a meet and greet at The Dirty Bird Lounge in downtown Hayward Saturday. I could see the fundraising efforts for Yesenia and I wanted to do something.. I was personally knocking on doors and meeting with residents and business owners, she said. (Contributed photo). Voters have the rare opportunity to decide a competitive race for Alameda County sheriff-coroner as incumbent Greg Ahern is being challenged by two candidates, sheriff's office Division Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco Police Department Officer JoAnn Walker.The Alameda County Sheriff's Office impacts many aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice in the Tri-Valley and across the rest of the county, including policing in the unincorporated communities as well as select cities via contract such as Dublin, custodial oversight of detained defendants at county facilities like Santa Rita Jail, bailiff duties at the courthouses, coroner responses and investigations after deaths in the county, and regional support in emergencies and other cases.Although the candidates have a range of public endorsements, especially Ahern and Sanchez, with three names on the ballot and a 50%-plus-one majority required to win the four-year term outright in the June 7 election, it's a possibility the sheriff's seat could be decided in a November runoff in the end.Experience -- or whether a change of leadership perspective is needed -- has emerged among the key themes of the campaign so far, along with public safety, racial justice reform, reducing recidivism and transparency. Updated at 7:28 PM PT on December 6, 2022. PR MediaRelease I represent the change Alameda County needs. "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. 2023 PleasantonWeekly.com. Pair of progressive women take on sheriff, DA JoAnn Walker and Pamela Price announced their joint bid today unseat the incumbent Alameda County district attorney and sheriff, saying they. More support worked three jobs at a used car dealership, the Oakland airport, and systems! Two candidates first to get our daily local news headlines sent to inbox... 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