Inspector general recommended for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office

A permanent inspector general would allow for proactive, rather than reactive, independent oversight of the Sheriff’s Office and would “enhance public confidence and foster mutual respect and trust, internally and externally,” Kalimah Salahuddin, chair of the commission, said.

Key abilities of a permanent inspector general would be to conduct independent investigations, engage with the public and build trust, propose policy and operation reform, support the county’s existing policies and ultimately identify risk before it leads to litigation, Salahuddin said.

Should an inspector general be hired, it is far more likely to prevent civil rights violations and misconduct, Salahuddin said.

“Comprehensive oversight isn’t just ethical, it’s economical,” Salahuddin said. “Lawsuits from misconduct can cost millions. Prevention is far cheaper than litigation.”

The recommendation from the advisory commission comes as the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors considers removing Sheriff Christina Corpus from her elected position for alleged misconduct. However, Salahuddin affirmed that establishing an inspector general is not because of one sheriff.

“This isn’t about one particular officer,” Salahuddin said. “It’s about the institution of the Sheriff’s Office, the ongoing need to rebuild the relationship with the community. That predates this sheriff.”

The Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office was established December 2023 and held its first official meeting in July 2024.

Efforts to create a sheriff oversight body gained momentum in 2022 after Assembly Bill 1185 went into effect the year prior, allowing counties to create independent boards with subpoena power. The San Mateo County commission, named an “advisory” board rather than a body with oversight authority, was criticized as toothless with limited capabilities.

Before and since the commission’s inception, the nonprofit Fixin’ San Mateo has been a long-standing proponent of an oversight body and permanent inspector general.

During public comment, many residents and stakeholders also raised the topic of Corpus’ successor, should she be removed from office. Most shared their desire for a transparent, community-engaged process.

Nancy Goodban, a leader with Fixin’ San Mateo, said the next sheriff should commit to “a respectful work environment to repair the damage in the office,” good community relationships, improving correctional facility conditions and continuing to refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

The matter of finding Corpus’ successor has yet to be discussed publicly by county officials. The Board of Supervisors may choose between appointing someone or conducting a special election, according to the county charter. The successor would serve for the remainder of Corpus’ term, which ends in December 2028.

The recommendation by the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office was strictly an information item, and no action was taken, but Supervisor Noelia Corzo noted the importance of rebuilding trust between the public and the Sheriff’s Office.

“We see a lot of division in our community around what accountability looks like, so thank you for your work on this,” Corzo said to the commission.