Special meeting for sheriff complaint set

“The investigation, conducted by an external and independent attorney investigator, is complete and the Board of Supervisors will consider at a special meeting whether to release the report,” according to a press release from the board.

The independent investigation comes at a time when tension in the county remains high as the Board of Supervisors prepares to initiate removal proceedings against Corpus.

Last November, the findings of a 400-page investigation into alleged misconduct of Corpus were released, prompting calls for Corpus’ resignation from the board, local city councils and elected officials in the region.

After Corpus refused to step down, the board resorted to holding a special election in March where voters overwhelmingly approved Measure A, adding a charter amendment that grants the board temporary power to remove the sheriff for causes such as flagrant neglect of duties or violation of law related to a sheriff’s duties.

Since workplace accusations against Corpus began mounting last summer and Measure A went on the ballot, she has filed several legal complaints against the county and its officials.

The board did not specify which allegations against Callagy were the subject of the separate, independent investigation.

However, in September Corpus sent a letter to the board urging it to launch an independent investigation into various accusations she made alleging misconduct by Callagy.

“I write to you with an immediate call to action to address the retaliation, abuse of power, sexual discrimination, and bullying tactics of your employee, County Executive Mike Callagy,” she wrote in the letter.

She held a press conference that month discussing the accusations, saying that Callagy abused his power and made inappropriate comments toward her.

She alleged that during a meeting with Callagy after she was elected sheriff, “he made an inappropriate and offensive request, ordering me to inform him who I dated within the county and when,” she said at the September news conference.

She also claimed that Callagy made a unilateral decision in negotiating contracts with sheriff’s unions without Corpus’ input, as well as trying to interfere with Corpus’ firing of former assistant sheriff Ryan Monaghan.

Following Corpus’ news conference, the board released a statement saying that it received Corpus’ complaint and would evaluate what course of action to take.

It also said that Callagy informed the board that the accusations made against him were false and defamatory, and that “he welcomes a full, transparent, and independent investigation into any allegations made against him.”

The statement mentioned that Callagy requested the full results of an investigation to be released to the public.

Eight months later, it appears that the investigation Corpus requested has been completed.

But Callagy has already taken matters into his own hands.

In March, he filed a $10.5 million complaint against Corpus and her chief of staff Victor Aenlle in response to the allegations. Corpus is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Aenlle, according to the 400-page investigation.

The complaint argues that Corpus’ statements against Callagy were untrue, defamatory, and made to harm his reputation.

“On information and belief, Sheriff Corpus and Mr. Anelle conspired to publish the above false statements and conspired with ill will, anger, hostility and malice towards Mr. Callagy to intentionally damage Mr. Callagy’s reputation with these false statements,” accrording to the complaint filed by Callagy.

Supervisors will convene during Thursday’s special meeting to discuss whether the results of the investigation should be released to the public. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 10 a.m. both online and in board chambers at 500 County Center in Redwood City.