By Alise Maripuu. Bay City News.

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Dozens of San Mateo County deputies and their supporters gathered outside the County Center in Redwood City on Tuesday to voice their grievances against Sheriff Christina Corpus and her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle.

The San Mateo County Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Sheriff's Sergeants' Office unions have accused Aenlle of creating a toxic work environment and interfering with protected union activities.

“Our sheriff’s office is torn by an atmosphere of unrest and retaliation, largely due to the conduct of Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle,” Carlos Tapia, president of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriffs Association, said at the event.

The deputy sheriffs' association, or DSA, has filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints with the California Public Labor Relations Board, they said. They allege that the sheriff's department's management failed to adequately consult with the DSA before making several policy decisions.

“The situation has been building up, but I think the situation got really, really bad during a recent negotiation over the mandatory overtime policy,” Tapia said. “During this meeting and consultation process, the sheriff’s office administration walked away from the table and then instituted their own policy without confirming it with us first. They then changed the minimum and maximum staffing levels in the jails, again without consulting us.”

They also accused Aenlle of suppressing the union. In its complaint, the DSA claimed that Aenlle pressured the DSA to change its leadership during the meeting.

“At the August 13, 2024 county meeting, Aenlle attempted to force the DSA members present to remove the DSA board of directors,” according to a statement in the complaint filed.

Aenlle's conduct has contributed to an uneasy relationship between the department and DSA, they said.

“Historically, the sheriff’s department and DSA have worked together with mutual respect and collaboration to solve problems,” said Sean Currin, an attorney representing the sheriff’s deputy association. “Once this administration took power, President Tapia and DSA were repeatedly fired, which fractured the relationship. The reason for this fracture is Victor Aenlle.”

Last week, Aenlle faced a vote of “no confidence” from the DSA and the Sheriff’s Sergeants’ Office, or OSS. 96 percent of members of both unions approved the vote of “no confidence.”

“His behavior toward employees has been absolutely reprehensible, causing emotional distress among both sworn officers and civilian staff,” Tapia said. “His inappropriate and outsized influence over command staff has left many too scared to speak out.”

The unions said Corpus ignored the concerns of the DSA and OSS, and instead accused them of “political theater,” as Corpus said in a statement released last week.

“Special interests seeking to undermine my leadership have attempted to bully me into a vote of ‘no confidence’ against my Chief of Staff,” Corpus said. “No one will bully me into making personnel changes. This vote is nothing more than a political maneuver led by a few members of the administration seeking to divide this office.”

The DSA and OSS denounced Corpus' response to their complaints, which they say has created a feeling of distrust toward management at the sheriff's office.

“The sheriff had a choice,” Tapia said. “Instead of launching a thorough investigation or taking appropriate action, she chose to dismiss our concerns. She accused us of being a small, disruptive group.”

The vote has no legal authority over Aenlle or the Sheriff's Office, but it has caught the attention of the county Board of Supervisors. Supervisors David Canepa and Noelia Corzo attended Tuesday's news conference to show support for the unions and denounce Corpus' response.

“It is the responsibility of this sheriff to make sure that she listens to the employees of this organization. I cannot stand by and watch our employees be treated the way they are being treated,” Canepa said. “It is really, really important that the sheriff meets with DSA, meets with OSS, sits down and has concrete conversations. What the sheriff is doing now is not working.”

This is not the first time sheriff's deputies have complained about Corpus and Aenlle. David Wozniak, a former sheriff's deputy and president of the DSA, sued Corpus and Aenlle earlier this year for allegedly demoting him in retaliation for refusing to endorse Corpus during his campaign for sheriff.

The board said in a statement that the county has hired an outside investigator, a retired California Superior Court judge, to get to the bottom of the dispute between the Sheriff’s Office leadership and its deputies. The investigation “is separate and distinct” from the unfair labor practice complaints filed with PERB by the union, the statement said.

“This vote of no confidence is not political, but the sad reality of the state of the sheriff’s department,” Currin said. “The people of San Mateo County need to know how their brothers and sisters in blue are being mistreated.”

You may be interested in: San Mateo County supervisors investigate allegations at Christina Corpus Sheriff's Office

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La Junta de Supervisores del Condado de San Mateo dijo estar al tanto de múltiples denuncias contra el personal relacionadas con la Oficina de la Sheriff del Condado de San Mateo, e informó que ya realiza una investigación pertinente que garantice equidad y debido proceso.

“Nos tomamos estas denuncias muy en serio. Al mismo tiempo, queremos asegurar una investigación y evaluación imparcial de estas denuncias, para garantizar a todas las partes la equidad y el debido proceso”, precisó la Junta de Supervisores en un comunicado.

En él, también informó que se ha encargado a la jueza LaDoris Cordell que dirija una investigación independiente sobre las numerosas denuncias presentadas por miembros del personal juramentado de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de San Mateo. 

Esta investigación, precisaron, es distinta y separada de las investigaciones en curso sobre las denuncias de prácticas laborales injustas presentadas ante la Junta de Relaciones Laborales Públicas.

San Mateo County Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller have been appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve as spokespersons on this matter.

“La Junta de Supervisores se compromete a aprovechar todos los recursos disponibles para garantizar que los residentes del condado de San Mateo reciban los más altos estándares de profesionalismo y conducta ética en los servicios del condado. También estamos dedicados a garantizar que los empleados del condado sean tratados de manera justa, con dignidad y de acuerdo con la ley”, subrayaron.

Los supervisores precisaron que tras la investigación se utilizarán los hallazgos para guiar los próximos pasos. 

“Nuestro objetivo es garantizar una revisión exhaustiva e independiente de todas las acusaciones, sacar a la luz los hechos y mantener la responsabilidad y la integridad como nuestras principales prioridades, tanto para los miembros de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de San Mateo como para nuestra comunidad”.

You may be interested in: “No one will bully me into making personnel changes”: Sheriff Christina Corpus

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La sheriff del condado de San Mateo, Christina Corpus,  ha emitido un important announcement saying: “nadie me intimidará para que realice cambios de personal. Este voto no es más que una maniobra política liderada por unos pocos internos que buscan dividir esta Oficina”, ante una posible campaña política de desprestigio con información falsa.

Y es que, se ha iniciado una campaña política de desprestigio en contra de Corpus, donde información falsa en su contra circuló a través de redes sociales diciendo que el condado esta fuera de control y ella no pudo con el paquete, razón por la cual debe salir del cargo actual, comentó Manuel Ortiz durante el programa de radio Península 360 Press y Hecho en California with Marcos Gutierrez.

Corpus, recordó, es la primer mujer latina en este cargo, cuenta con una licenciatura en Ciencias en Justicia Penal y tiene una maestría en Ciencias en Aplicación de la Ley y Liderazgo en Seguridad Pública. 

A lo largo de su carrera ha trabajado en la División de Correcciones, Normas Profesionales y División de Operaciones, además de desarrollar el primer Simposio y Campamento de Entrenamiento para Mujeres en la Aplicación de la Ley para aumentar la diversidad de la fuerza laboral para orientar y capacitar a las mujeres que buscan una carrera en la aplicación de la ley. 

La sheriff Corpus ha trabajado de la mano de su comunidad, apoyando y buscando el bienestar de los residentes, trabajo que muchos ciudadanos reconocen, señaló Ortiz.

Actualmente, existe cierta presión por algunos elementos que son de índole política que no se encuentran de acuerdo con su labor, sin embargo detrás de esta problemática existe la falta de respeto a sus capacidades, creyendo que por ser mujer no puede realizar ciertos cambios, subrayó.

Manuel Ortiz comentó que al revisar los comentarios generados por el comunicado, se pueden ver algunos que la atacan, pues dicen que Redwood City esta tomado por el crimen organizado, sin embargo eso no es cierto.

Sumado a ello, destacó que Redwood City no le pertenece a la sheriff Christina Corpus, por lo que estos comentarios solo forman parte de ataques sin fundamentos.

Para los residentes de North Fair Oaks, existe un aprecio por ciertos cambios que ha hecho Christina Corpus porque ella ya había trabajado con la comunidad y generado un previo acercamiento.

“Las actividades comunitarias se han fortalecido, se han ampliado y eso es algo que la comunidad aprecia”, expresó Manuel Ortiz. 

Finalmente destacó que pareciera que se está creando una campaña de desprestigio político, a lo que Corpus llamó un golpeteo contra su jefe de personal, pues se encuentra haciendo cambios que no le agradan al equipo que se encontraba anteriormente y esto ha generado ataques a su persona y a su equipo de trabajo. 

You may be interested in: “The best oversight is perception”: Sheriff Christina Corpus calls for changes in the police profession

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The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors proclaimed Tuesday, September 17, as National Voter Registration Day, a reminder to check your registration status and an opportunity to spread the word about the importance of preparing for Election Day by registering to vote.

With 50 days to go until the general election in the United States, it is of utmost importance to remember that it only takes a few minutes register to vote or check your registration status.

Nearly 438,000 San Mateo County residents are registered to vote, about 85 percent of the roughly 514,000 who are eligible.

California allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote before they are eligible to cast a ballot. If a teen you know will turn 18 before Election Day (November 5), they will be able to vote, but a pre-registration form is required. online pre-registration.

It should be noted that you can find detailed information about local elections, candidates for public office, how to register to vote or check the status of your registration by clicking Click here. Translations are available in Spanish, Chinese and Filipino here.

In response, San Mateo County is partnering with numerous local organizations to spread the word about voting and raise awareness about voter registration. 

These include: Turn Up & Turn Out: Civic Education Fair, taking place on Saturday, September 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Menlo School (50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton). An afternoon of democracy in action designed to inspire and educate the next generation of voters and civic leaders.

Added to this is Tu Voto, Tu Futuro/Your Vote, Your Future, which will take place on Monday, September 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. online session on Facebook about the importance of voting, how to register, the role of Latinos in the upcoming elections and more. 

This event will be in Spanish, with English interpretation available. The session is sponsored by San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Warren Slocum and the Caron Program.

The election is on Nov. 5 and the United States will elect a new president, but voting for the nation's highest office along with dozens of important local races actually begins in San Mateo County on Oct. 7.

This is when voters begin to receive their ballots in the mail and the first ballots are opened. voting centers.

You may be interested in: California speaks out on raids against Latino voting rights organizers in Texas

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As the general election in the U.S. approaches, several local organizations have called on candidates for District 4 in San Mateo County to attend a public forum, with the intention of giving voters a more informed vote on who could represent them.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors District 4 Candidate Forum will be held on Monday, September 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Fair Oaks Community Center, and all residents are invited to attend.

Hosted by ThriveAlliance, Leadership Council San Mateo County, and Choose Children, a project of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the forum will provide San Mateo County residents with the opportunity to hear from the candidates for Board of Supervisors representing District 4: East Palo Alto City Councilmember Lisa Gauthier and East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez. 

Candidates Gauthier and López qualified for the November 5 elections thanks to the primaries held on March 5.

It should be noted that all districts have changed since the 2020 Census report and the following redistricting process. District 4 includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and North Fair Oaks. 

“Thrive Alliance, Choose Children, and the San Mateo County Leadership Council are collaborating to offer this Candidate Forum to facilitate voter education, and we encourage County residents to attend. Questions on a variety of topics will be directed to the candidates,” said San Mateo County Leadership Council Co-Chair Kaarin Hardy.

For her part, Yajaira Ortega, Director of Policy and Equity at ThriveAlliance, said that an engaged and informed electorate is the foundation of a prosperous democracy. 

“Through events like this Candidate Forum, Thrive Alliance works to create spaces where community members can connect with candidates, ask important questions, and feel empowered to make informed decisions at the ballot box. Civic participation is more than a right – we are all responsible for building a more inclusive and representative future for San Mateo County,” she stressed.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors oversees County departments, programs and properties with an annual budget of more than $4 billion. Through this oversight, the Supervisors seek to serve the many goals and priorities of the community.

“An overwhelming majority of San Mateo voters agree and want elected officials to prioritize family-friendly policies that will create a bright future for our children and our community. Voters want candidates to come to the table with meaningful proposals to address the needs of our youngest children and their families,” said Christine Thorsteinson, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

“Our future is brighter when all children are healthy, safe and engaged in early learning. It is brighter when working families have access to affordable child care and when our early care providers are fairly compensated,” she added.

It is worth noting that ThriveAlliance, Leadership Council San Mateo County, and Choose Children and Silicon Valley Community Foundation are non-sponsoring and non-partisan organizations that only organize the forum.

Virtual assistance will be Available on Zoom, will also have interpretation into Spanish. 

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