A state ruling has affirmed claims over unfair labor practices within the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, after an official complaint was filed last fall in an early move by whistleblowers to raise public concern and awareness of the Christina Corpus administration.
Evidence of unilateral changes without union conference in regards to minimum staffing levels and mandatory overtime, interference and domination by the administration, and undermining the authority of the union was found within the Sheriff’s Office by the Public Employment Relations Board. The state agency that investigates and mediates labor issues for public agencies issued a formal complaint against San Mateo County April 3.
The initial complaint to the public agency was filed by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association in September 2024 against Corpus and her former chief of staff Victor Aenlle. The motion began the public’s awareness of low morale in the Sheriff’s Office at the hands of Corpus and Aenlle, with who she was accused of having a personal relationship in a 400-page investigation by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring fair and lawful treatment in the workplace and will continue to keep the public informed as this case moves forward,” a statement from the DSA reads.
Corpus has previously stated the internal personnel decisions were made in an effort to address a staffing shortage she inherited. Since then, Corpus has touted hiring numbers to fill these vacancies, but deputies and sergeants have argued they are misguided statistics.
The Public Employment Relations Board also claimed evidence of discrimination and retaliation, citing the arrest of DSA President Carlos Tapia, placing him on administrative leave, and initiating an internal affairs investigation after Tapia participated in an investigation against Corpus and Aenlle.
The investigation outlined evidence of abuse of power, retaliation and conflicts of interest, leading to extraneous efforts to remove Corpus from her position. In March, voters approved granting the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors the authority to remove an elected sheriff for just cause, and the means to do so are being finalized in coming weeks.
A settlement conference is currently slated for May 14.
(5) comments
With the plethora of laws in this country, it is astounding that we have not been able to sideline her as the inevitable looms. She is now nothing but a liability and is probably not managing her elected position. At this rate Corpus may well last until the next election. All we have to show for so far is political hay for some and a hefty multi-million dollar bill that could have been avoided had the SM County attorneys analyzed the consequences of this recall process before it was placed on the ballot. An expensive and seemingly useless effort indeed. Meanwhile, Corpus is crying all the way to the bank and laughing at us.
It will be worth every cent when she’s banished from the Sheriff’s Office and the law enforcement community!
For the naysayers of the Cordell report. The PERB’s findings adds another pound of credibility to Cordell’s findings and adds another nail in Corpus’s termination coffin. Speaking of “findings.” Anxiously waiting for the DA’s Office findings. Which could be the coup de grâce.
I think you're right. If Steve Wagstaffe's team lays out a criminal case against Christina and Victor, then Christina must ask herself if she is truly qualified to lead the Sheriff's Office. The question was already answered by San Mateo County voters.
The walls are closing in on the sheriff. It's sad our county has come to this... it's also sad the sheriff is unaware those walls are inching closer and closer.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.