OPINION
Shameless sheriff The outrage of the Santa Clara County Sheriff ’s alleged corruption is matched only by her impunity
essary to ensure true accountability in the County district attorney’s office has been future. investigating these glaring red flags for In December 2019, the Mercury News the last three years. The most signifipublished an article on a series of suspicious cant development in the case may have concealed-carry weapon permits granted come in late 2020 with the criminal by the sheriff’s office indictment of to two Apple execu“It seems that being a fat- Undersheriff tives’ security guards. Rick Sung These two execu- cat donor is the key to — Smith’s tives — among othtop depuer high-profile indi- unlocking the sheriff’s of- ty — for anta Clara County Sheriff Lau- viduals — promptly fice.” his role in rie Smith has allegedly been operat- received the permits the alleged ing a pay-to-play racket out of the for their security afpay-tosheriff’s office for years — issuing ter contributing $1,000 to Smith’s reelec- play scheme. concealed-carry weapons permits in ex- tion campaign. To date, he is the highchange for favors and donations — accordThe apparent transactional ease with est-profile individual in the ing to multiple criminal, civil, and journalis- which these permits were granted contrasts sheriff’s office to be criminally tic investigations. sharply with the experience of ordinary charged. His trial is expected to That is only what has been exposed so concealed-carry applicants in Santa Clara begin this year. far. This investigation is still unfolding, but County. Even with stringent state regulaThe county civil grand jury what has ensued already is staggering. tions, the sheriff’s office has given out far findings against Smith are scanFive of her closest deputies have been fewer permits than other counties. dalous. According to a grand jury charged for their role in the From 2014 to report, Smith not only illegally scheme, and Smith herself “Oh, what a harsh 2020, for example, granted concealed weapons permits has been indicted on seven 150 concealed weapon to political donors, but also improperly counts of misconduct and penalty to ride off permits were issued or accepted gifts from high-profile individuals corruption by the Santa into the sunset, pen- renewed in Santa Clara and deliberately lied about them on her fiClara County civil grand County, compared to nancial disclosure forms, among other legal jury. On March 11 — fol- sion in tow.” over 5,000 in much violations. lowing a no-confidence smaller Sacramento One gift was box suite tickets and revote by the Board of SuCounty, according to a freshments for a 2019 San Jose Sharks pervisors — she announced she would not Mercury News analysis of agency records. hockey game — worth more than $500 seek reelection when her term expires in The usual stinginess of the sheriff’s — given to Smith by local insurance 2023. office in handing out permits only deep- executive Harpreet Chadha; this presOh, what a harsh penalty to ride off ens the contrast with those who flash some ent was conspicuously absent from into the sunset, pension in tow! green and seem to receive their permits h e r Given the negligible consequences for straight away. It seems that being a fat-cat this alleged malfeasance, it would seem pru- donor is the key to unlocking the dent to trace the trajectory of this sordid sheriff’s office. tale so far to consider what changes are necThe Santa Clara
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32 May 2022
