San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus gave an account of the efforts made by the Sheriff's Office for the entire community, through a letter issued by social networks, where he also highlighted the importance of a profound change in the police profession.
Corpus, who took office as San Mateo County sheriff in January of this year, said in the letter open to the public that since his arrival at the agency, progress has been made in efforts to engage deeply with the diverse communities in the area.
“In the 23 years I have served in the Sheriff’s Office, I have dedicated myself to finding ways to serve people beyond our initial contact. I love our county and care deeply about it,” Corpus said.
In addition to the creation of CARE (Community Advisors for Responsible Engagement) in the North, South and Coastal areas of the county, which already has 49 volunteers, Corpus recalled quarterly meetings to discuss in-depth and provide new perspectives on issues such as data collection, mental health, operations, equitable policing, homelessness and crime trends.
“CARE was not intended to replace any ‘oversight’ mechanism, but rather to be a safe place where everyone is welcome and has the opportunity to ask questions, contribute ideas, and offer recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office. In addition, I share how we do things and why we do them,” she said.
However, she noted that, “rather than focusing on what we find problematic about some forms of oversight, I want the community to know what we support and what we are already doing without the need for formal, ineffective and costly bureaucratic layers.”
In that regard, he said that the estimated costs associated with supervision exceed $3.2 million, which hinders the programs and resources available to the communities served by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
In this regard, he pointed out that beyond the key concepts of transparency, commitment to the community and responsibility, a change is needed at the core of law enforcement.
“I believe the law enforcement profession needs change. Change must come from within, and change must be led from the top and reflect input from the communities we serve. Our vision at the Sheriff’s Office is a world where all humanity is valued and respected. Where everyone is heard, and everyone is treated with dignity, compassion and respect. It is my inherent duty to you to lead that effort, not only for our community but for our profession. The law enforcement profession needs change, and it is my intention for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to be a model for that,” he said.
Sheriff Corpus explained that the way forward for modern policing requires a culture shift, as well as the inculcation of a culture in which the purpose goes beyond mere enforcement of the laws.
“Our purpose is to protect the vulnerable from harm and to do so with compassion, dignity and respect. We cannot compromise the safety of our communities,” he said.
“I hope they understand not only what we do, but also how and why we do it,” Corpus said, noting that she is willing to create and foster open lines of communication and accountability with the community she serves.
Personnel crisis, the challenge to solve
Like many other agencies in the Bay Area and across the country, he said, staffing and retention pose significant challenges.
The personnel crisis has become a complicated problem for security agencies across the country. Currently, he stressed, there is a shortage of 96 officers to meet the daily security challenges in the county.
“It is only through the incredible efforts, sacrifices and sense of duty of our staff that we can continue to provide excellent services throughout the county,” he said.
However, he explained that when he researched oversight models across the country and accessed data from the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), he was not presented with a successful oversight model that benefits the community and ensures public safety.
“Bay Area agencies with supervisory models in place are burdened by trying to recruit the best candidates, while also dealing with rising crime rates and exponential added costs in responding to supervisory demands.”
That’s why, she said, she’s looking to improve resources to engage with the community and integrate input into meaningful change. “I look forward to working with the county to increase resources dedicated to the community to ensure their voices and views are heard.”
He also said that modern policing skills are gained through communication, input, compassion and care, not supervision. “A culture supported by those values embraces the community at a deeper level.”
“As your elected Sheriff, I leave you with our mission statement that inspires what we do and why we do it: As stewards of our community, we envision a world where all humanity is valued and respected. We recognize our role as leaders in this effort and are committed to seeking creative and effective ways to work with our residents, businesses and stakeholders and to listen to their needs. We do this with a passion for preserving safety for all who live, visit or work in San Mateo County. The women and men I lead in this organization choose to serve you and provide you with a sense of security, which is what we will continue to do,” she concluded.
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