San Mateo County refutes sheriff’s allegations

“There was nothing nefarious about these pages not having been included in the exhibit but, given the interest in them, as mentioned, they are now available on the County’s website,” the press release said.

The Board of Supervisors hired Cordell in July 2024 to investigate Corpus’ administration after receiving an “unprecedented” amount of complaints, resulting in a 400-page report detailing accounts of a culture of intimidation, conflicts of interest and corruption. The report was made public Nov. 12.

Corpus’ lawyer — who she hired independently — said the entire ordeal is a conspired campaign against the sheriff.

“This is a case about a County discriminating against, harassing and defaming a dedicated public servant because the defendants do not want either a woman or a Latin X person as the head of their Sheriff’s Department,” the claim reads.

In the press release, the county seized on the claim’s misspellings, including that of the sheriff herself and Supervisor Noelia Corzo, and said it was “largely devoid of any alleged facts supporting its conclusions and egregiously accuses Judge LaDoris Cordell of partaking in what the claim calls an ‘evil scheme.’”

“It is amazing what some Judges will do for money,” the claim reads. “Obviously, if Cordell would cover up part of the tape recorded interviews, she is likely to mis-state what folks said to her when not tape recorded at all.”

The county further defended Cordell and said she is highly respected with decades of public service. The county also explained her contract of $750 an hour with the investigation and associated report costing approximately $200,000, in line with both the cost of the complex and sensitive investigation and her experience and expertise.

“The cost also speaks to the large number of witnesses Cordell interviewed — 40 current and past employees — and the extensive time taken to assess the veracity of the large number of complaints that Cordell reviewed,” according to the county statement. 

In 2022, Corpus was elected sheriff, beating incumbent Carlos Bolanos “because the public wanted to improve accountability and transparency in the Sheriff’s Department,” the claim reads. She was the first woman and Latino sheriff in the county and is one of the first Latina sheriffs in the state.

As Corpus’ former chief of staff, Victor Aenlle is central to the chaos encapsulated in the investigation conducted by Cordell. The retired judge concluded Aenlle was abusing his power and receiving special treatment, and found substantial evidence of Aenlle and Corpus’ personal relationship beyond friendship.

In Cordell’s report, a transcript of her interview with Aenlle was included. The claim notes that around 29 pages of the transcription were not included in the public release of the report. The included transcript is 99 pages long.

The claim suggests that those 29 transcribed pages were “key” and contain the “most significant exculpatory statements” from Aenlle’s interview.

“When considering the totality of events and how this one-sided report has been used to defame Sheriff Corpus and seek to terminate her, the odds of an innocent mistake seem harder to believe than winning the lottery,” the claim reads.

County officials said the claim holds no merit and “are completely baseless and distraction from the issues that give rise to the present circumstances.”

No confidence

The scathing investigation into the Sheriff’s Office top brass found evidence of a culture of fear fostered within rank-and-file that led to overwhelming calls for a new administration. Almost the entire sworn staff in the Sheriff’s Office has asked Corpus to resign, as well as the San Carlos City Council, congressional and legislative leaders and the Board of Supervisors.

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association have filed complaints with the Public Employment Relations Board, which includes evidence of retaliation against former Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan for participating in the Cordell investigation.

DSA President Carlos Tapia — who was an early whistleblower raising concern of Corpus’ administration — was also arrested without a warrant the morning the investigative report was released for alleged time card fraud. The arrest was ultimately revealed by the District Attorney’s Office to be baseless, raising questions of retaliation as well.

Charter amendment

Corpus has repeatedly stated she will not step down, so the county is seeking other avenues to remove her.

The Board of Supervisors have placed a charter amendment on the March ballot, asking voters whether the governing body should be awarded the authority to remove the sheriff from office. This amendment effort was incorrectly identified as a recall effort in the claim, though an official recall committee has been formed by residents.

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

The county will begin mailing ballots by Monday, Feb. 3, when early voting centers will also open the same day in San Mateo and Redwood City.

Visit www.smcacre.gov/elections/march-4-2025-special-election for the ordinance, impartial analysis and official argument in favor and against the charter amendment.