Dangerous honeymoon

In the interview Monday with the Daily Journal’s Ana Mata and me, his first since taking office, San Mateo County Sheriff Ken Binder was decidedly exhaust-free. Or smoke-free.

Following the compressed “campaign” that led to his appointment, many said they were struck by Binder’s humility. It is more fitting to call it confidence — the kind that comes from his decades of experience in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. The kind that frees him to answer a question by saying, “I don’t know.” The kind that allows him to address the issues facing the Sheriff’s Office as they arise, and to change an approach, when necessary, rather than be captive to a foolish consistency. He knows how he wants to start — indeed, already has started — and where he wants to end up. He called it “leadership that’s visionary … that fulfills the needs of public safety.”

Changes already have occurred that send important signals. The fifth floor of the Sheriff’s Office, where executive offices are housed, was shut off during the prior administration. Now, the halls and the doors are open. Several personnel on administrative leave were returned to work. He declined to say whether these suspensions were politically motivated or improper: “I don’t know yet.” But those on administrative leave “need to be working.”

Binder acknowledged the office “has a political nature to it. There is no getting away from it.” He never opted to run for office in “the county to the south … I hate asking people for money.” Ultimately, he said, the task “has nothing to do with image. It has everything to do with operations.”

He said he is “committed to the long term,” and that includes running for the job in 2028. “You can only do so much in a couple of years,” he said.

Repeatedly, Binder shifted the focus of the interview back to the staff who carry out the duties of the office, people beleaguered and besieged for well over a year.

“They are resilient, professional. They care about their job. They want to serve the public,” Binder said. He said he will focus on officer safety, mental wellness and working conditions. He wants to implement a real-time information center, and expand disaster preparedness and training. He said he will entrust his captains with more decision-making authority.

And he explained that “21st century policing,” a term tossed around liberally in the past few years, means shifting from a “warrior mindset to a guardian mindset.” He said he intends to be an active, “engaged” presence throughout the communities his office serves.

NO INSPECTOR GENERAL: Binder indicated he does not wish for an inspector general with subpoena power attached to the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission. Rather, he would like to name an ombudsman to address complaints about the jail, and he intends to work closely with the ICAC. … It appears there are not three votes on the Board of Supervisors to create the IG position. Plus, the board has subpoena power and is likely to engage in greater oversight of the sheriff.

DON’T LET THE DOOR: One-time Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle, the good doctor, had his reserve deputy status rescinded yesterday. Perhaps this signals the full and final end to this sordid episode.

MEET THE SHERIFF: Binder, 51, offered up a few personal details during the interview. He is living in Redwood City, he has been married for 12 years to “the love of my life” — the two met at a dental office. He is 6 foot 4 inches, and in his free time likes to play basketball, ride dirt bikes and play guitar.

NEWS COVERAGE: A note about the news media coverage as this scandal became a regional, statewide and even national story: It was a deep disappointment. Some of local news media seemed unconcerned about fairness and simply parroted information, innuendo and rumor, often false and always biased. Indeed, some were blatantly unapologetic about reporting only one side of the story without a hint of skepticism, happily allowing themselves to be used to damage the reputations of well-meaning public servants.

AT LAST: It really is time to write about something else, a notion Binder said he welcomed. “I want us to do our job on a day-to-day basis without being in the public eye so much.”