} However, if we implemented a program that granted all first-time offenders, excepting those accused of the most heinous crimes like child sexual abuse, rape, murder, etc., immediate bail with no associated financial penalty, while also employing rules for repeat offenders that requires a financial component to bail or remaining in custody until their cases are adjudicated, I believe that would get bipartisan support and be the best outcome for all. His 31-year career has. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { background-color: #003388; .inner_percentage.Green { It handles law enforcement in nine cities, from Imperial Beach to Vista, as well as the countys unincorporated areas. San Diego COVID-19 cases grow by more than 1K over last weekA total of 4,110 cases were reported in the past week compared to 2,977 infections identified the previous week. Gore held the job for more than 12 years, handpicked in 2009 by retiring then-Sheriff Bill Kolender. .votebox-scroll-container { left: 0px; } $('#candidate-connection-twitter-132178').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); For more information on other local races in the California June Primary and voting tips, check out our 2022 Election Guide. .widget-img { .race_header.republican { I am a tenured law enforcement administrator who has worked his way up through the ranks with experience developing and implementing community programs in multiple law enforcement agencies. Martinez said detentions deputies will wear cameras, and broken security cameras will be fixed. John Hemmerling, 56, lives in San Diego. } At the same time, Gunderson would prohibit encampments on any other public property in the county. He was the chief prosecutor in the San Diego City Attorney's Criminal and Community Justice Divisions until he retired this week. background-color: green; Peoples perception of law enforcement is based on the society or country where they grew up. .non_result_row { San Diego County Candidate for Sheriff Next Contest John "Gundo" Gunderson Police Captain 41,800 votes (6.2%) My choice Candidate has provided information. Federal courts | He believes having Campus Resources Officers in schools is currently a benefit that oftentimes leads to better relationships but should be utilized in a way that reflects what society wants. jQuery(item).html("Scroll for more "); Absent the cases where the immediate use of force is obviously necessary, e.g., a domestic violence situation in progress, there are oftentimes I feel the use of force could have been avoided if we simply did a better job of explaining the circumstances to the civilians involved before taking action. It is not enough to simply do one background investigation at the beginning of someones career and then fail to take seriously, and investigate, allegations of misconduct in a timely manner. I jumped in the race because all I saw were candidates who were professing to represent one side of the political spectrum or the other, and San Diego residents deserve better, he said. font-size: 12px; Ray has temporarily replaced Bill Gore, who retired in February after 51 years in law enforcement. } john gunderson for sheriffchina media group website. .votebox { $('.hideResponses').hide(); Officer welfare and public safety cannot fall victim to a sociologists data sheet, he said. .inner_percentage.Republican { While with the Sheriffs Department, his assignments included work in the jails and on patrol before he retired as a sergeant in 2007. .widget-row.Democratic { The state auditors office investigated, and earlier this year issued a finding that the Sheriffs Department failed to adequately prevent and respond to the deaths of people in custody. color: #888; Hired in 1978 as the 4th officer in the Castle Rock Police Department, John worked to protect our communities for over 40 years. font-weight: bold; $('.collapse').collapse('show'); To wear the badge is an honor that requires honorable character. Peck said the problem is overworked jail staff, lack of trained medical personnel to address inmate needs, and street drugs getting inside the jails. background-color: #003388; display: block; We can tell people this is an area where you can safely sleep at night with services available but you can no longer pitch a tent on the sidewalk, compile trash and bicycles that generally make the area uninhabitable for everyday people. John Garcia was elected as the 54th Sheriff of Erie County on November 2nd, 2021, and took office on January 1st, 2022. For decades law enforcement agencies and the public have had a preconceived notion of what an officer should look like, e.g., short hair, no tattoos, no piercings, etc., and this has naturally led otherwise qualified candidates to not advance through the hiring process because of how they look. Q: What do you think about the growing use of surveillance tools in law enforcement? } With zero bail and cases being pushed off for months and months, criminals think they can get away with something. And while there is no incumbent on the ballot, one of the frontrunners has the backing of Gore and filled the seat temporarily when he retired. Head Topics, publish breaking news of all around the world. Opinion: I have slept on sidewalks so I know what might help end homelessness. KUSI Newsroom.Copied!.SAN DIEGO (KGTV) .SAN DIEGO (KUSI) San Diego City claims dozens of parking spaces are going to be taken out and replaced with bike lanes along a one-mile stretch, going from Adams Avenue down to University.. SAN DIEGO (KUSI) John Gunderson is campaigning for the role of San Diego County Sheriff on a basis of working to provide safe parking areas and a variety of housing options for the homeless..Gunderson has been in law enforcement for 31 years, starting as an Explorer Scout and working his way up to being a District Attorney Investigator..The turning point last year to UC San Diegos Big West season came in an unlikely place Cal State Fullerton..Unlike other candidates, he does not believe in campaign donations and is devoted to spreading the message through word of mouth..So far so good, as this season has seen plenty of wins for the Aztecs. padding-top: 3px; As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic when zero bail was essentially the law of the land overnight, all that did was embolden the predators among us to commit crime after crime after crime, knowing it did not matter because they would not be taken to jail or otherwise held accountable. As the departments chief executive, the sheriff is responsible for the management of seven detention facilities, 21 patrol stations and substations and a crime laboratory. word-wrap: break-word; In addition to my professional accomplishments, my wife and I also created, built and successfully operated a brick-and-mortar small business in San Diego for 10 years before we sold it. .votebox-results-cell--number { It seems obvious, given the high number of jail deaths, continuous internal ethical issues resulting in arrests and convictions of line level and command level staff, and deputies leaving the department in greater numbers than are coming in, that we need a new sheriff who is not going to simply carry on the legacy of the old administration. overflow: hidden; }); Hemmerling retired from the City Attorneys Office the following day. In John's first term as Erie County Sheriff, he is working to modernize the Sheriff's Office, equipping officers to face the complex challenges of 2022 and beyond. The problem is in the details. } Martinez said she has the most experience 37 years with the department and points to the size of the agency and the scope of its work, her current job running daily operations as undersheriff, and the month she spent as acting sheriff when Gore left and before an interim sheriff was appointed. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { Only four men have been elected as San Diego County Sheriff in more than 50 years. Only after we create a centralized location where homeless individuals will be allowed to live in tent shelters, and where they can receive medical, mental and social services, will we be able to then say camping anywhere else in the county is no longer legal. Although he said he is not sure if its entirely appropriate for major announcements, it can be useful for a general advisory and for building a positive relationship with the community. $('.hideResponses').show(); .inner_percentage { However, I believe the Sheriffs Department should take the lead role, not a supporting role, in bringing together all of the government agencies and elected officials in order to identify a definitive solution that incorporates an enforcement component. $(".expand-all").on('click', () => { Peck said: Social media, movies and politicians have portrayed law enforcers as threatening, unjust and corrupt instead of members of their community serving and keeping peace. He blamed politicians for creating conflict by enacting laws he said are unconstitutional. } A: I do not believe it is proper for me or any other candidate to assess Sheriff Gores legacy. The failure of a small parcel tax to upgrade San Diego parks and libraries may be telling, Why Lara should link auto insurance rate hikes to prompt refunds of pandemic overcharges. Someone allegedly commits a crime, theyre arrested and offered a plea deal but if they say they want to exercise their right to go to trial, that plea deal is taken off the table. .votebox-results-metadata { Laws, Gunderson said, might seem well-intentioned and reasonable to everyday people but it is not fair to the public to set impossible expectations with people who are willing to break laws. The question is what, as a society, are we willing to accept for punishment when crimes are committed. A home. Apply today! Find Jon Gunderson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. There are seven candidates for San Diego County Sheriff on the June 7 ballot in the race to replace retired Sheriff Bill Gore, who may be most remembered for the high number of deaths that occurred in county jails on his watch. background-color: #ccc; display: inline; .results_row td { .race_header.green { 2. width: 350px; Money To End Homelessness + Don't Let Scammers Steal Your Refund. Although, like earthquake insurance, we hope to never need it, I would much rather deputies be equipped and prepared to defend the masses than wish they were when a critical incident is happening. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } The San Diego County Sheriffs Department is the law enforcement agency for nine contract cities in the region: Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista. Battle said staff could do a comprehensive review of the jail to identify problems and suggest fixes. I would then work to provide the necessary equipment, policies and additional staff. .widget-value { The election for San Diego County Sheriff is drawing nearer. Gunderson and Battle said they were not seeking donations. He will work hard to find solutions and build strategies for success. font-size: 20px; The current challenges facing the Sheriff's Department are not few, nor minor in scope. overflow-x: scroll; College baseball weekend: UC San Diego faces Big West test vs. Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State softball team raising the bar with new head coach, Residents respond to San Diego City's effort to add bike lanes in University Heights -, San Diego researchers have new way to gauge ocean life, Stan Caplan throws his hat into the ring for California's 51st Congressional District -, Scientists may have found the first known planet to orbit three stars. Opinion: Im a college student. } Well, I guess you can never entirely rule anything out, Gunderson said. } John Anderson is a lawman, a firm constitutionalist, and a vigorous defender of the Second Amendment. Charles Chuck Battle, police Capt. background-color: green; maine coast construction. He would also focus on building relationships with young adults in schools. John Gunderson (also known as Gundo) ran for election for San Diego County Sheriff in California. .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Refine Your Search Results. } Instead, we should be looking to recruit employees from all walks of life, i.e., people who grew up poor, rich, in families with single parents, two parents, orphans, persons from other countries who have legally immigrated to the U.S., persons who have worked in food service, construction, accounting, etc. At that point, deputies would be able to effectively respond to the countless calls for service about the problems associated with homeless encampments. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Lets take the zero bail, for example. Dave Myers and recently retired Assistant San Diego City Attorney John Hemmerling. Cities | 100% remote. position: relative; .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { New leadership could mean a sea change for a department that has been grappling with staffing problems, high death rates in the jails and an uptick in crime, as well as its own data indicating racial bias in stops and searches. Q: What would you do to protect inmates from this or the next pandemic and how would you try to prevent the spread of disease in jails? .clearfix { indicateScroll(); Although running for Sheriff isnt his lifes dream Gunderson said he thinks there is a need for him to run. Martinez counts the Deputy Sheriffs Association the union that represents rank-and-file deputies among her supporters. defer(); .survey-result {padding:10px;} About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . .percentage_number { Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } John Garcia is a first-generation American who has dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Erie County. } I know it discourages people who likely would be found innocent but the risk is too great: the possibility of serving three years instead of, say, six months with a plea deal. Juan Carlos Charlie Mercado did not reply to repeated requests. Victims and suspects each deserve a highly trained law enforcement response from people who respect everyone we serve, she said. That experience taught me what it takes to make it in the business world, and how government can help or hurt small business owners. $('#candidate-connection-email-132178').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-email'); }); Unlike other candidates, he does not believe in campaign donations and is devoted to spreading the message through word of mouth.Gunderson himself joined KUSIs Jason Austell on Good Morning San Diego to discuss details of his campaign. padding-bottom: 8px; He said hes been a detective, a member of SWAT, and worked in administration. left: 0; By getting involved in the political process, you can make a difference in your community. .votebox-scroll-container { Teri Figueroa covers courts, crime and breaking news for The San Diego Union-Tribune. He told the Union-Tribune editorial board he would put new administrators in place and take fresh look at the department. padding:7px 8px 8px; Elections in 2023 | .votebox_bp_logo { document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. .votebox-results-cell--check { background-color: white; Hemmerling also had the endorsement of the Union-Tribune editorial board until the board rescinded it earlier this week after a recording surfaced of Hemmerling making remarks at a candidate forum that were considered by many to be disparaging to transgender people. background-color: #f4f4f4; } He currently commutes to northern California several days a week to head the Redwood City Police Department administrative services division which includes internal affairs, training, personnel and recruiting, and fiscal management and policy development. I would work to expand community programs, grow that relationship, Gunderson said. Dave Myers, 60, is a La Mesa resident who started his career with the Sheriffs Department as an Explorer in 1986 and retired as a commander in 2018. She is the first female undersheriff and would be the first female sheriff in the departments history. If you have comments or questions about the election or any of the candidates after reading this interview, please email Editorial and Opinion Director Matthew T. Hall at matthew.hall@sduniontribune.com. What would you say to affected communities about this? vertical-align: top; color: #fff; display: block; } ul.key-messages {list-style-type: none; margin-left:10px; } @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { I would work with community groups and the training unit to better equip deputies with the cultural knowledge needed to be able to understand the perspectives of the civilians they are dealing with in order to communicate effectively to arrive at peaceful resolutions to incidents. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} Hemmerling he said he commanded four prison compounds in Iraq without incident said his reforms would include frequent safety checks, and closer supervision of inmates with a higher risk of death due to mental illness or drug overdose. top: 0px; How to run for office | Additionally, random inspections to ensure policy compliance and proper use are critical to avoid abuse. $('.hideResponses').on('click', () => { height: 100%; } Unlike other candidates, he does not believe in campaign donations and is devoted to spreading the message through word of mouth. letter-spacing: .04em; Once you have a sheriff at the top that sets attainable goals and holds people accountable we are going to see significant changes, he told the Union-Tribune editorial board. The Sheriffs Department has more than 4,600 staffers and an annual budget of $1.1 billion. There were no incumbents in this race. Over time it grew into a busy side business where I was hired by Douglas County Open Space, businesses and private property owners to construct fences. Properly trained deputies should be provided with light armored vehicles, long rifles, tasers, pepper balls, long-range impact weapon systems, tear gas and any other tool that has the potential to end a conflict without resulting in significant injury or death to any civilians or deputies involved. Gavin Newsoms California Water Supply strategy released in August calling for more reservoir storage capacity to capture runoff from big storms. width: 50px; John Gunderson, and retired sheriffs Sgt. By retiring then-Sheriff Bill Kolender Department are not few, nor minor scope. A difference in your community to the countless calls for service about growing... 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