Accusations against Sheriff Corpus exposes a systemic failure — it’s time for oversight

For three years, Fixin’ San Mateo County has urged the Board of Supervisors to establish a Civilian Oversight Commission and appoint an independent Inspector General. We did not make this request lightly or for political gain. We made it because oversight is how you prevent crises before they erupt — not how you clean up the damage after the fact.

In 2020, the California Legislature gave counties the authority to oversee their sheriffs through AB 1185. This law empowered local governments to create robust, independent bodies to review, investigate and provide accountability for their sheriff’s departments. Other counties saw this for what it was: a tool to build trust, improve transparency and support the good officers doing hard work every day.

San Mateo County did not.

Instead of heeding the call for action, our Board of Supervisors hesitated. They formed the Independent Civilian Advisory Committee, a step in the right direction, but, ultimately, a body with no authority, no budget and no power to conduct investigations or issue findings. It was a placeholder.

The board’s decision to wait until a scandal forced their hand has brought us to this point. Today, we face a very real crisis of confidence. Public trust is eroding. Reports allege that Sheriff Corpus interfered in internal investigations involving deputy misconduct. The department is in turmoil. And deputies, who deserve clear leadership and the public’s respect, are caught in the middle.

Let’s be clear, this is not a moment for political retribution. It’s a moment for responsible, corrective action. Civilian oversight is not a radical idea. It’s common sense. Counties like Los Angeles and Sonoma have implemented strong oversight models that work — models that feature independent inspectors general with subpoena power, professional staff and clear jurisdiction to investigate complaints and systemic issues. These structures don’t hinder law enforcement. They enhance it. They improve morale by ensuring fair, consistent standards. They build bridges between the department and the communities it serves. They create systems that reward integrity and expose misconduct. In the long run, oversight helps both deputies and the public.

Everyone benefits when law enforcement is trusted, transparent and accountable.

We are calling on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to do what should have been done long ago:

• Strengthen the ICAC immediately by granting it full investigatory powers, a defined mandate and the resources to do its job effectively.

• Appoint a permanent, independent Inspector General with subpoena authority — someone who reports not to the sheriff, but to the people through an independent structure.

• Lay out a transparent timeline for these reforms, with regular public updates and opportunities for community input at every stage.

We recognize that this moment is painful. For the community. For the Sheriff’s Office. For everyone who believed that our institutions were already functioning as they should. But pain is not an excuse for paralysis. It is a reason to move.

If we want to restore trust, we have to earn it. If we want to protect the public and support good deputies, we need real oversight — not just advisory groups and empty promises. The tools are there. The law is on our side. The time is now.

This is not about punishing one person. It’s about protecting the integrity of our institutions. It’s about making sure this never happens again.

Let’s fix what’s broken. Let’s make San Mateo County a model of transparency and accountability. Let’s not waste this chance.

Jim Lawrence is the board chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County.