San Mateo County Sheriff’s Independent Investigation – NBC Bay Area

On November 13, 2024By Littum

Two members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors are calling for Sheriff Christina Corpus to resign after releasing details from a new independent report investigating allegations against the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

The 400-page report is the results of an investigation by retired Judge Ladoris Cordell and includes nearly 50 exhibits detailing what she says is evidence of abuse by the sheriff’s office and staff. The report contains allegations ranging from employee retaliation to abuse of authority. It goes on to allege lies, secrecy and intimidation by the sheriff’s administration.

“I am appalled by the outright vilification of two members of the board. These are people who have a vendetta against me. I am disgusted by the lows these people will go,” Corpus said in a news briefing she held late Tuesday. “These claims are absolutely not true.”

County supervisors will meet Wednesday to discuss the sheriff’s future.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Bay Area on Tuesday, Corpus said the report itself is biased. The sheriff also said she has not seen the report and that Cordell did not give her sufficient time to answer questions. Corpus said she isn’t going anywhere and doesn’t plan to step down.

Meanwhile, the union’s vice president was arrested Tuesday for alleged fraud, and the union immediately claimed the arrest was whistleblower retaliation. Corpus said the deputy’s arrest had nothing to do with the investigation into allegations against her office.

“I stand before you today to address a serious matter that affects not only the integrity of my sheriff’s office, but also the trust we have worked so hard to build with our community. It is never easy when one of your own is involved in alleged criminal activity Today I have to share with you the difficult but necessary decision to arrest a deputy in our office,” Corpus said in the first of two news briefings she held Tuesday. “No one is above the law, and we are committed to accountability at all levels. While these actions are difficult, they are necessary to maintain the integrity of our office and the trust of our community.”

San Mateo County Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller presented Cordell’s report during a news briefing Tuesday in county chambers. The sheriff’s chief of staff was the focus of many of the complaints. The supervisors are now demanding accountability.

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is speaking out after coming under fire from county administration and several unions. Damian Trujillo has the exclusive report.

During another exclusive interview with NBC Bay Area on Oct. 4, Corpus spoke out after coming under fire from county administration and several unions.

“I’m not going to let people who are unhappy with themselves tear me down,” she said in the interview. “I’m strong. And I had the courage to run against my boss and I fought hard.”

Corpus recently filed a formal complaint against county manager Mike Callagy for what she describes as bullying. In that complaint, Corpus asked the Board of Supervisors to investigate Callagy, alleging that he has on various occasions undermined her ability to perform her duties as sheriff since she assumed her role in 2023.

The sheriff’s demands against Callagy came amid rising tensions between union members, Corpus, and her chief of staff. The county board of supervisors has also investigated the sheriff’s office.

Early last month, the deputy sheriffs’ association and the organization of sheriff’s sergeants held a vote of no confidence in Corpus’ chief of staff, Victor Aenlle. The DSA overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence in Aenlle by a margin of 306 to 12.