Union leader sues San Mateo County sheriff

The suit names Corpus, her former chief of staff Victor Aenlle, former Assistant Sheriff Matthew Fox, Undersheriff Dan Perea, and San Mateo County as defendants. An initial claim was filed in February, and the county responded March 28, denying the claims.  

“Defendants, and each of them, each personally, individually, knowingly, and willingly participated in the formation of official policies, and promulgated, adopted, and ratified plans to arrest Tapia and thereby to interfere with his political and union activities and thereby with the operation of the DSA,” the lawsuit alleges. 

Hours before a scathing investigation into Corpus and her administration was to be made public by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Nov. 12, Tapia was arrested without warrant for felony charges of timecard fraud. He was also placed on administrative leave. 

Although Tapia’s arrest has since been deemed wrongful and unnecessary, and bolstered concerns of retaliation at the hands of the sheriff, he remains on administrative leave, leaving him incapable of properly serving in his union leader capacity, the lawsuit alleges. 

“Mr. Tapia has been targeted for a deprivation of these rights by defendants for no other reason than his lawful exercise of the rights and responsibilities associated with his role as President of the DSA,” the lawsuit reads. 

Despite contrarian views, Corpus issued arrest 

On Nov. 12, Tapia’s arrest was ordered by Corpus, who directed Fox to investigate Tapia’s timecard records and provide a report to the executive team prior to his arrest. Fox’s report noted the matter was ongoing and “more needed to be done,” but an arrest was still made.

Two days after the investigation into Corpus and the Sheriff’s Office top brass was made public — and two days after Tapia’s arrest — Fox resigned. Fox was promoted to the position two months prior after Corpus fired his predecessor Ryan Monaghan, two days after Monaghan informed Corpus he participated in Cordell’s investigation. 

Fox was asked to conduct the arrest only after former Capt. Brian Philip refused to do so. Undersheriff Dan Perea ordered Philip to make the arrest “but would not provide a factual basis to warrant the arrest,” according to the lawsuit. After Philip refused, Perea ordered him to stay silent about the request, according to the lawsuit. 

Philip filed a claim against the county in February alleging whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, gender discrimination and workplace violations under Corpus’ administration. 

Path to arrest

The path leading to the union president’s arrest is filled with tense debates over mandatory overtime policies and numerous complaints made over Corpus and Aenlle. 

Tapia has served as the president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association since August 2022. Corpus was elected to office just a few months prior — without the DSA’s endorsement. 

Aenlle was a part of Corpus’ campaign team, and then one of the members of a team to assist Corpus in her transition into office. 

During the transition period, Aenlle told Tapia he “did not deserve” to be union president, the lawsuit alleges. Rumors also began to swirl in the Sheriff’s Office that Corpus and Aenlle were engaged in an affair. In the lawsuit, Tapia details an instance when Corpus and Aenlle both individually contacted Tapia asking him to dispel the rumors through his capacity as union president. 

The lawsuit also alleges Fox in November 2022 — who was, at the time, an employee of the Daly City Police Department, prior to being hired as a captain for the Sheriff’s Office — informed Corpus that a Sheriff’s Office employee was discussing the alleged affair while Tapia was present. Corpus wished Tapia intervened. 

“Corpus wanted Tapia to exercise his power in that way — stopping members from speaking about the Sheriff,” the lawsuit alleges. 

Once Corpus took office in January 2023, she made a role for Aenlle on her executive team.

Corpus and Aenlle have consistently denied having an inappropriate relationship beyond work colleagues. 

Between March 2023 and April 2024, Tapia was “made privy to a number of complaints from employees of the Sheriff’s Office about working conditions, including their treatment by Mr. Aenlle,” the suit alleges. 

The workforce’s dissatisfaction and concern over Aenlle was affirmed when, in September 2024, an overwhelming majority of the deputies union voted no confidence in Aenlle. The union repeatedly asked for his removal from the executive position.

During the summer and fall of 2024, a fact-finding investigation conducted by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell was underway looking into Corpus and her administration. Tapia was contacted by Cordell on Aug. 9, according to the lawsuit.

On Aug. 15, a conversation between the executive team and union leaders of the Sheriff’s Office about mandatory overtime turned heated and ended without resolution. Tapia expressed dissatisfaction with the new proposed policy, which was created by Aenlle and Fox, the lawsuit alleges. 

A few hours later, Tapia was asked to “properly code his timecards for auditing purposes” by the payroll unit, according to the lawsuit. A week later, Tapia received another email stating he “had not properly coded his timecard.” 

Months later, on Nov. 12, Fox told Tapia he needed to surrender his service weapon and badge, and turn himself in. He was arrested for grand theft and theft under false pretense, over the alleged timecard violation. 

A few hours later, Cordell’s more-than-400-page report was made public, including evidence for the allegations that Corpus had an inappropriate relationship with Aenlle and that the two retaliated against employees. The next day, the Board of Supervisors zeroed out the budget for Aenlle’s position, in effect firing him from the executive position, despite Corpus’ effort to subvert the decision. Aenlle currently remains a reserve deputy working in the Sheriff’s Office’s concealed carry weapon unit.

Other suits

In January, Corpus filed her own $10 million claim against the county alleging discrimination, harassment and defamation. The county denied the claims. 

On March 13, County Executive Mike Callagy filed a $10.5 million claim against the county over false statements and wrongful conduct made with the intention of harm by Corpus and Aenlle. In the months leading up to the public release of Cordell’s investigation, Corpus and Aenlle attempted to divert the bubbling attention on the office’ top brass by alleging Callagy was actually the source of strife, his claim alleges. 

On Jan. 9, the county retained Oppenheimer Investigations Group to conduct an investigation of discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment complaints brought by Corpus against Callagy. The investigation resulted in a 113-page report that determined there was no misconduct by Callagy and the allegations were unfounded. 

Monaghan filed a complaint March 19, alleging he was the target of retaliatory practices, intimidation and unjustified termination by Corpus and Aenlle. The complaint seeks punitive damages of at least $5 million.