As more local leaders call for resignation, supervisors look to expand authority to get rid of San Mateo County sheriff

The call comes after an investigation conducted by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell outlined substantial evidence of corruption within the office’s top brass. The report, in addition to many dismissals and resignations, demands an urgent solution, the elected leaders wrote.

“The turmoil that is engulfing the Sheriff’s Office is continuing to damage the organization and its members, jeopardize public safety and is exposing local taxpayers to avoidable liabilities,” the Nov. 18 statement read.

The letter was on behalf of Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco; Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto; state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park; Assemblymember Diane Papan, D-San Mateo and Assemblymember Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto.

The congressional and legislative leaders join the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors who unanimously demanded the sheriff’s resignation at a special meeting of the board Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Concern over the status of public safety amid the turmoil of the Sheriff’s Office were outlined in the statement, emphasizing the daily need for essential services it provides. Trust in the Sheriff’s Office has been “gravely undermined,” Berman wrote in a statement previously.

“Our county can no longer afford the chaos and failed leadership of Christina Corpus,” the statement read. “Our communities deserve better.”

On Monday, Corpus again said she will not step down.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised that more elected officials have decided to pile on me and my office,” the sheriff said in a statement.

“To the people of San Mateo County, I want to make it clear: I am not going anywhere. You elected me to be your Sheriff, and I intend to continue the hard work of reforming this office and keeping this community safe.”

The Board of Supervisors will discuss the possibility of presenting a charter amendment to voters that would grant the governing body authority to remove an elected sheriff from office, which would possibly mean a special election held in March.

But the California State Sheriffs’ Association sent a letter to the board Nov. 18 ahead of the meeting outlining its “significant concerns” regarding the proposed ordinance, stating it will “dilute the voice of the voter” and undermine the separation of powers between the county’s legislative branch and its executive branch.

“Placing this power into the hands of individual board members, coupled with the subjectivity of ‘cause’, disenfranchises your constituents’ votes and undermines confidence in the electoral process,” the letter read.

A recall effort is a more appropriate effort should the need arise to remove a sheriff before their term is up, the letter reads. Further, the attorney general has supervision authority over all sheriffs in the state.

When asked previously if the county would await recall efforts by voters, Supervisor Ray Mueller said he felt it was his duty to move forward with a charter amendment, citing the urgent nature.

“At this point, we really want to bring this matter to the voters as quickly as possible,” Mueller said previously. “We’re fashioning that amendment with the appropriate guardrails so the voters know that this would not be a power of the board to use indiscriminately.”

The prepared ordinance granting the governing board authority to remove a sheriff will outline specific circumstances under which the board could act in this manner, including specifying that criminality must be found, or evidence that Corpus is not doing her job or there is unethical conduct.

“To have this much dysfunction in the command staff with another member resigning is particularly disturbing,” Mueller said previously. “That command staff is who we rely on in a time of crisis.”

The scandal at the Sheriff’s Office emerged amid a labor dispute among deputy sheriff’s and sergeants, which led to an overwhelming no-confidence vote in Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle. The Board of Supervisors retained Cordell in July 2024 following an “unprecedented” amount of complaints regarding Aenlle and Corpus, including allegations the two were in a personal relationship, which the Cordell report unequivocally confirmed but Corpus denied.

On Nov. 14, Acting Assistant Sheriff Matthew Fox resigned just two months after he was promoted to the position. Fox replaced his predecessor Ryan Monaghan, who Corpus fired. Monaghan was fired shortly after telling Corpus he participated in the ongoing investigation by speaking with Cordell.

Rumors of a practically empty executive office — Aenlle’s previous position was abolished by the county and his promotion to assistant sheriff by Corpus is being investigated for its legality — were clarified with a statement from Undersheriff Dan Perea who said reports of his resignation were untrue on Saturday, Nov. 16.

“I continue to have complete confidence and respect for Sheriff Christina Corpus, our employees, and the voters of San Mateo County who elected her to office to carry out reforms,” Perea wrote. “I remain committed to serving sheriff Christina Corpus as she continues to bring change in the face of entrenched resistance.”

In addition to a possible charter amendment, the Board of Supervisors also approved sending the findings of the investigation to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal consideration, the California Attorney General’s Office, the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, and the county’s civil grand jury.

The full 400-page report by Cordell can be accessed at www.smcgov.org/ceo/independent-investigation-sheriffs-office in addition to press conferences and statements on the matter on behalf of the county.