San Mateo County supervisors may call for sheriff’s resignation after detail allegations

REDWOOD CITY, California. – Two San Mateo County supervisors released an independent report Tuesday calling on Sheriff Christina Corpus to resign amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.

Prior to the release of the report, Sheriff Corpus held a preemptive press conference on the arrest of San Mateo Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Carlos Tapia, the latest development in a continued rift between the sheriff’s department and county executives.

Before the sheriff’s press conference, San Mateo Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller scheduled a press conference at 4 p.m. to announce the report’s findings on the allegations against the sheriff’s office.

During her press conference, Corpus spoke about Tapia’s arrest on suspicion of grand theft by false pretenses. He allegedly forged time cards. The sheriff’s office provided no further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Tapia was released on bail and placed on administrative leave, the Sheriff’s Office said. His case will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service for review.

On Tuesday, the union, along with the San Mateo County Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants, condemned Tapia’s arrest, saying it “has all the hallmarks of whistleblower retaliation” in the wake of a report also released Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors by a retired judge. LaDoris Cordell, who investigated union complaints against civilian chief of staff Victor Aenlle.

Tapia was an outspoken critic of the sheriff’s office and its administration.

“This is not a coincidence,” said the deputies’ union, which alleged that Corpus “abused its power and the public trust” by allegedly violating a conflict of interest policy that requires the District Attorney’s Office to charge allegations of criminal misconduct by the sheriff must treat. Office workers. Instead, the union said, it arrested the deputy herself.

Supervisors would later say at their press conference that Tapia was arrested without a warrant.

“The San Mateo DSA condemns retaliation against any San Mateo employee who speaks out against the misconduct of elected officials, and will vigorously defend President Tapia against these allegations.”

At her first press conference, Sheriff Corpus addressed the fact that the sheriff’s department maintains the same standards they demand of others.

“I will not turn a blind eye when credible evidence supports that a crime has been committed, whether it is a member of the public or a trusted member of our office,” Corpus said. “There has been speculation and concerns about possible conflicts of interest involving internal and external figures who have spoken out about this investigation.”

Corpus further says that County Executive Mike Callagy and Sup. It is known that Mueller is friends with Tapia. Corpus called out Callagy and Mueller by name and urged them to stay on the right side of the law.

In September, Corpus sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors accusing Callagy of retaliation, abuse of power, sexual discrimination and bullying. Just days before that letter was sent, members of the board asked questions Corpus’ firing of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghansaying it may have been in retaliation for participating in an outside investigation into the sheriff’s office.

“There are reports of meetings behind closed doors. These allegations, whether factual or fabricated, have raised questions about efforts to undermine my office’s investigation and leadership,” Corpus said. “I want to be clear: any attempts to derail justice through loopholes, baseless claims or personal agendas will not succeed.”

She said she would enforce the law fairly and impartially.

Shortly after Corpus spoke first, the regulators held their press conference. Supervisors Corzo and Mueller released the retired judge’s report on the sheriff’s office’s leadership and conduct, calling it “concerning” and that it “warrants immediate action.”

The investigation stemmed from a large number of complaints, regulators said. They said the report focused on allegations of abuse of power, intimidation, retaliation and conflicts of interest and that Aenlle was at the center of these complaints.

Supervisors say Aenlle repeatedly abused his authority, with the knowledge and approval of Sheriff Corpus, according to the report, and the sheriff chose not to speak to the judge about this investigation despite being given the opportunity to do so.

Supervisors said 12 of 15 allegations against sheriff’s office leadership were upheld by the judge. They also claim the sheriff’s personal relationship with Aenlle violates the county’s nepotism policy. Corpus has denied that relationship, although regulators say the report claims the relationship has existed since 2021.

The report found that the sheriff also made racist and homophobic comments in the workplace. During their news conference, the supervisors showed on a projector the language the sheriff used or was spoken through text messages.

According to the report, Captain Corpus walked into the employee’s office in January or February 2022 while a Zoom meeting was taking place. An unidentified civilian employee’s screen was muted as she watched the meeting. Corpus said the N-word twice to then-Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, right near the civilian employee’s ear. The report says Corpus knows the civilian employee’s son is biracial and identifies as African American. He also volunteered for Corpus’ campaign for sheriff. The civilian employee was stunned and upset but remained silent for fear of retaliation, the report said.

In the summer of 2022, it emerged that Corpus sent the civilian employee text messages criticizing a local councilor by calling her “fuzz bumper,” a homophobic slur aimed at lesbians.

The regulators said the retired judge concluded that fear of retaliation “is rampant in the organization” and that “the Corpus-Aenlle government is obsessed with loyalty bordering on paranoia.”

sup. Corzo said Cordell’s report shows that Sheriff Corpus should resign and Aenlle’s employment with the sheriff’s office should be terminated immediately.

Cordell’s report also found that Aenlle failed to meet duty requirements, performed outside work that was not approved, and improperly possessed guns. The report also concludes that Aenlle improperly wears a badge he is not allowed to wear and that both he and Corpus improperly distributed honorary badges and identification cards to citizens.

The board meets on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Mueller said they could consider censuring the sheriff or calling for her resignation. Additionally, they could call for Aenlle to be removed from his role and the report referred to the civilian grand jury and the district attorney’s office. The board does not have the authority to fire the sheriff, but can request a bylaw amendment at an election to ask voters for the authority to do so, Mueller said.

Sheriff Corpus held a second news conference after supervisors released details of the retired judge’s findings. She said she would not resign, denied the allegations against her and claimed she was dealing with a ‘good old boys system in this province that is corrupt.’

“I am a woman of color who has risen through the ranks in a male-dominated field. This is nothing new to me,” Corpus responded at her second press conference. She called Cordell’s report biased and said it was prepared at the behest of the county and the county attorney who was supposed to represent her. “I have no legal representation now.”

Corpus said there is a vendetta against her by people who don’t want to see her in office.

“Other members of the organization contacted Judge Cordell and they were rebuffed,” Corpus said. ‘Imagine if we turned away people who wanted to report it. That’s not okay.’

We will update this story with the latest details as they develop.

You can find Cordell’s report as part of the Board’s agenda package for the November 13 meeting, here.

Bay City News contributed to this report.