Two former Central Valley police chiefs are going head-to-head
with incumbent Sheriff Laurie Smith in a race that has generated
fiery rhetoric among contenders.
Two former Central Valley police chiefs are going head-to-head with incumbent Sheriff Laurie Smith in a race that has generated fiery rhetoric among contenders.
Former Parlier Police Chief Martin Monica and former Gustine Police Chief Richard Calderon both served as police department heads before leaving under contentious circumstances. Both also have decades of experience with the San Jose Police Department and contend that the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department needs change.
“(Smith) puts herself out as the only true leader, but she’s been an unproven leader in her lack of response to the community,” Monica said.
Meanwhile, Smith stands on her record. “I think that we’re going in the right direction, and we do a good job,” Smith said.
Ultimately, voters will get to decide June 8 who should fill the role.
Martin Monica
Monica, a 55-year-old substitute teacher from Santa Clara, worked for the San Jose Police Department for 18 years and served as chief of police in the Fresno County city of Parlier in 2002.
He has made his presence known locally at a variety of events, including a Feb. 13 Santa Clara County Activists for Animals function in Palo Alto, and a Feb. 14 protest in Stevens Creek of the NUMMI plant closure in Fremont.
“A lot of people in law enforcement say (these community events have) nothing to do with law enforcement, and that’s the problem,” he said. “Traditional policing is very narrow-minded.”
His experience as Parlier’s police chief helped prepare him for the sheriff’s department role, he said. He managed a staff of about 15 people there as well as some reserve officers.
Yet, he also ran into controversy, being fired after only about eight months. City officials accused him of various misdeeds, including improper use of a cell phone, failing to show up to work on a regular basis and overspending, he said. Monica said none of those charges were factual, stating that the questioned expenses had been approved by the council and that he worked 80 hours per week.
He said the real reason for his dismissal was that a police sergeant, who was married to a Parlier City Council member, was accused of molestation, and Monica asked that the sheriff’s department handle the case rather than police. Ultimately, he said it was his ethics that got him fired.
Richard Calderon
Calderon is no stranger to law enforcement, having served with the San Jose Police Department for 30 years in several positions including as captain. He also served as police chief in Gustine for 8.5 months last year.
The department needs to lower liability costs as the county has paid out millions in sheriff’s-related claims over six years – including $990,000 to the Hells Angels – he said.
“You need to evaluate all of those incidents, determine where mistakes are being made, and then change policy or provide training,” he said.
Calderon said he was active in the community as Gustine’s police chief. He also is pushing for further cooperation with Santa Clara County police departments.
His time with the Gustine Police Department was cut short after City Manager Margaret Silveira decided to buy out the remaining four months of Calderon’s year-long contract. He had “professional conflicts” with the mayor and city manager, Calderon said. In one example Calderon gave, Mayor Rich Ford said during a City Council meeting that the council had the right to lower police’s wages without meeting with unions first, which Calderon said was not true.
Silveira told the Merced Sun-Star in January that they had differences over how the city could spend federal stimulus money. Ford told the Sun-Star that Calderon was heavy-handed on citizens for minor infractions, such as traffic violations.
However, Calderon said he asked his officers to hand out a survey about police service and received positive results.
Laurie Smith
Smith, 58, not only has made a name for herself in Santa Clara County during the past 12 years, she has garnered statewide attention after becoming the first female sheriff in California in 1998.
Smith ran unopposed during the past two elections, so she is still getting used to the harsh criticism that comes with this type of campaign.
One of her greatest accomplishments has been setting up a collaborative training program with regional community college districts, she said.
Still, during the next four years, she said she hopes to see a continued improvement in services provided.
“The boring biggest challenge is the budget, even though that really is the issue,” she said.
Smith received endorsements from dozens of individuals, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and various state and federal leaders. Locally, Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage, former supervisor Sig Sanchez and Gilroy City Council members Dion Bracco, Perry Woodward and Craig Gartman have provided endorsements.
Still, she has gotten much criticism from political opponents.
For instance, Monica said she bribed correctional officers by saying that she would only give them sheriff’s department-issued identification cards if they would endorse her. Smith disputed these claims, saying she simply told them she would not be able to get them their identification cards until next year.
Candidate bios
Sheriff Laurie Smith
Age: 58
Residence: San Jose
Family: Married with one daughter
Experience: 36 years with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, including 16 years in top management.
Martin Monica
Age: 55
Residence: Santa Clara
Family: Married with one son and one daughter
Experience: 18 years with San Jose Police Department and eight months as Parlier Police Chief.
Richard Calderon
Age: 56
Residence: San Jose
Family: Married with one son, one daughter, one stepdaughter and two grandchildren
Experience: 30 years with San Jose Police Department and 8.5 months as Gustine Police Chief.
