Sheriff removal on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors' agenda

An investigation into the sheriff’s actions found that Corpus engaged in “multiple acts of misconduct” including violating the law related to performance of the sheriff’s duties, flagrant and repeated neglect of the sheriff’s duties, and obstruction of an investigation into the conduct of the sheriff, according to a staff report. 

On June 2, a “59-page single-spaced document supported by an additional 524 pages of evidence and 42 witness interviews,” was served upon Corpus, and given to each member of the Board of Supervisors for review, according to a staff report. 

While the county wants to publish the proposed notice of intent to remove available for public review ahead of the meeting June 5, Corpus may object, according to the staff report. She has until Wednesday morning to decide. Although both Corpus and supervisors have “repeatedly expressed a desire for a transparent process,” the sheriff has suggested that the effort to remove her is biased, and is notorious for not speaking publicly about the allegations against her at length. 

Thursday’s vote is the first step of the removal proceedings approved by the Board of Supervisors May 6. Should supervisors approve the notice of intent, the finalized version will be served on Corpus. Within five days, a pre-removal conference will be held in front of Chief Probation Officer John Keene, who will give a recommendation to the board. 

Upon receipt of Keene’s recommendation, supervisors will then sustain or reject it. A final decision to remove Corpus will be made by another four-fifths vote, and can be appealed by Corpus if she wants an evidentiary under-oath hearing, in front of a separate hearing officer from Keene. 

This hearing would likely occur in August 2025, according to the staff report. It will be open, unless Corpus objects and requests the hearing to be closed. 

The extraordinary effort to remove Corpus comes after a year of the public becoming aware of reports of the Sheriff’s Office riddled with a disgruntled workforce, allegations of retaliation and abuse of power, and many lawsuits already filed. 

Much of the weight of the effort to remove Corpus predicates on an investigative report conducted over four months last fall by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, which outlined evidence of abuse of power, retaliation and conflicts of interest. 

Corpus’ attorneys have suggested that Cordell’s report was flawed, and hired their own former judge to question the investigative process. This evaluation was done by former judge Burke Strunsky, who called Cordell’s sourcing into question, but ultimately recommended the board to hold a public hearing with witness testimony under oath, which it will likely be doing. 

A separate investigation into County Executive Mike Callagy, looking into the alleged discrimination against Corpus, found no evidence supporting the claims. This investigation was conducted at the request of Corpus, however, she did not effectively participate in the investigation, except for a written statement. 

The District Attorney’s Office is investigating the alleged criminal offenses outlined in Cordell’s reports. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe has not disclosed when those findings will be released, just that they would be presented all at once.

The matter of finding Corpus’ successor has yet to be discussed publicly by county officials or Sheriff’s Office personnel. 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.