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The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors convened a special meeting Wednesday to consider possible actions, including the immediate resignation of Sheriff Christina Corpus, following an independent investigator's report into allegations of retaliation, conflict of interest, abuse of power, and use of racist and homophobic slurs.
Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller on Tuesday highlighted the release of the 140-plus page, evidence-backed report prepared by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell on the allegations against the sheriff and her employee, Victor Aenlle, who is part of her Leadership Team.
In July 2024, the Board of Supervisors hired Cordell, a well-known law enforcement official who has overseen several high-profile reviews of Bay Area law enforcement. Cordell’s independent investigation and subsequent report included witness reports and direct evidence. After uncovering new issues, the investigation was expanded to include other questions.
Thus, Cordell concluded that “Lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest and abuse of authority are the hallmarks of the Corpus administration. Corpus should resign and Victor Aenlle’s employment with the Sheriff’s Office should be terminated immediately. Only new leadership can save this organization from chaos and its staff from demoralization.”.
Cordell's allegations include, but are not limited to, that Corpus and Aenlle, who describes herself as his chief of staff, have a "personal relationship" that goes deeper than friendship, creating a conflict of interest.
The statement also states that Corpus made racist and homophobic slurs in the workplace, while Aenlle has not met the requirements to be a reserve sheriff's deputy.
The statement also states that Aenlle does not meet the requirements to maintain his status as a Level 1 reserve agent because he declared that his hours of work as chief of staff also served as voluntary service hours required of reserve agents.
In addition, Corpus and his Leadership Team engage in retaliation and intimidation; Aenlle has exceeded and/or abused his authority with Corpus' approval, exercising authority that exceeds the supervision of civilian staff; and, with the approval of the sheriff, has placed himself at the top of the Chain of Command, thereby exercising broad and sometimes abusive authority over civilian and sworn employees.
Cordell also alleges that Aenlle had a conflict of interest in negotiating the lease on a property to be used as a daycare center, and that he is not authorized to carry identification that resembles the gold IDs of sworn employees, and in doing so, he likely committed a misdemeanor for knowingly carrying false identification that could mislead a civilian into believing that he is a sworn officer with full police powers, so Corpus, in giving the gold ID to Aenlle, may also have committed a misdemeanor.
Supervisors also learned Tuesday that the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office arrested Deputy Carlos Tapia, president of the Sheriff's Deputies Association and one of the people who reported a complaint against Corpus and Aenlle.
They noted that it is highly unusual in San Mateo County for the Sheriff's Office to take on a criminal investigation and arrest a member of its own department.
Based on these facts, today, Wednesday, November 13th at 4:00 p.m., the Board will hold a special meeting to discuss possible next steps, including, but not limited to, the adoption of a resolution of no confidence, a request for the immediate resignation of the sheriff.
An amendment to the County Charter is also planned to allow the Board of Supervisors to remove the sheriff for misconduct, which would require voter approval and referral to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and the State Attorney General's Office for consideration.
The public meeting will also be broadcast online via the zoom platform.
Following the special meeting, Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller will hold a press conference in the Board Room to recap the Board’s actions.
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