Assignment shifts echo San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office admin, unions dispute

The Transportation and Court Security Bureau provides security to county courts and secure transportation of inmates to and from court appointments, medical appointments and other correctional facilities. 

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants unions released a statement in response to the request, outlining safety concerns and frustrations over staffing. 

“Pulling deputies from the streets has significant ramifications for public safety since the Sheriff’s Office contracts with nearby cities for police services,” the unions’ statement read. 

Sheriff Christina Corpus said the assignment scheduling change will only be implemented when absolutely possible. 

Since Sept. 30, each bureau is required to provide one deputy during the workday to help with transportation and court security duties. The assistance program will be reevaluated in January.

“Each bureau has been asked to supplement staffing on a temporary basis, but only when scheduling permits and extra staffing levels exist,” Corpus said in a statement. “I am not pulling deputies from the streets, and I have made it clear that I will not compromise on public safety.” 

The DSA and OSS believe the request reflects a larger concern over staffing shortages and believe that “inadequate incentives are making it difficult to retain or replace” deputies, a statement by the unions read.  

“Union attempts to raise the alarm about a county Sheriff’s Office spread so dangerously thin have so far fallen on deaf ears,” the unions’ statement read. 

The unions believe that Corpus’ claims to fruitful hiring efforts are false, and that deputies have rather been moved around within the department, and are not new hires. 

“The union has reiterated its call for an improved system to retain experienced personnel and incentivize quality new hires,” the unions said. 

Corpus said these claims are inaccurate.

As of Monday, Oct. 7, and since Jan. 1, 2023, the Sheriff’s Office has hired 160 sworn and professional staff, Corpus said in a statement. 

“Notably, all 160 employees are still actively serving in their respective roles,” she said. 

In addition to recruitment, Corpus said efforts to “foster team cohesion and improve morale” have also been made, including Family Days and wellness initiatives such as healthy meals, a therapist and anonymous medical body scans. 

This continued dispute echoes concerns raised by the DSA and OSS over a harmful working environment, including concerns over Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle, unilateral decision making relating to overtime and staffing without union conference, and union busting. 

A recent change in the overtime policy looked for deputies to dedicate more overtime to working in corrections. A filed complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board by the DSA alleges the office’s administration failed to provide advance notice or opportunity to meet and confer over these decisions. 

Corpus said each of these operational decisions is in effort to provide “the highest quality of services to the residents of San Mateo County.”

“As public servants, and in accordance with our contractual obligations, sometimes we have to make staffing adjustments that might not be our first choice, but that ensure safety for all,” the statement read.