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Amid strong controversies and accusations against the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, led by Christina Corpus, the sheriff appointed Officer Matthew Fox as her new assistant this Sunday, August 22.
The move comes after the sheriff fired Ryan Monaghan from his position last week, a move the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors called retaliation against the former sheriff's deputy for speaking to a judge about allegations against the law enforcement department.
In his announcement made at a news conference, Corpus noted that Fox previously served as captain of the Patrol Bureau, which serves the cities of Woodside, Portola Valley, North Fair Oaks and unincorporated San Mateo County.
"Deputy Fox is a highly decorated and respected law enforcement leader with more than two decades of service to our county. Fox shares my values and visions for the healthy future of the County Sheriff's Office," Corpus said, noting that the promotion is effective immediately.
In her speech, Christina Corpus stressed that there are high-ranking county officials who are trying to undermine her role as sheriff.
“It is undemocratic. It is wrong and it has to stop. Until now I have been silent about the proxy discrimination retaliation and intimidation tactics. I have confronted them as part of a broader pattern that I can no longer ignore.”
She also said she has sent a formal letter of complaint to the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, asking that the intimidation tactics of County Executive Mike Callagy cease immediately.
“Let me be clear. I will not tolerate any further interference in my lawful duties as sheriff. My recent decision to fire Deputy Ryan Monahan is posturing. And any continued effort to block this decision will be met with legal action to protect the integrity of my office and my responsibilities to keep the residents of San Mateo County safe.”
"Just to be clear, I do not work for County Executive Mike Callagy. I work directly for the people of San Mateo County who elected me as their Sheriff. The County Executive does not decide who is on my executive team. The coach chooses his team," he stressed.
County Executive Callagy's overreach toward her, she continued, began with her first meeting with him after being elected sheriff.
“During that meeting, you made an inappropriate and offensive request of me. You ordered me to inform you of who I was dating within the county and when, a request I found demeaning and discriminatory. As a woman of color who has endured sexual harassment in this very county, I was shocked and horrified by your actions and conduct. I cannot imagine that I would have made such a request of my predecessors.”
He added that Callagy, from day one, has continued to overstep his authority and has systematically interfered in the operations of the Sheriff's Office.
"He made a unilateral decision, without my input, in negotiating with the unions that cost our county taxpayers $17 million," he said.
Corpus explained that the act of interference not only violates his authority, but also sets a dangerous precedent.
“Mr. Callagy’s actions have crippled labor relations, undermined my ability to lead effectively and jeopardized the safety and security of our correctional facilities. With Mr. Callagy’s support, the unions have developed a misconception and their negotiations extend beyond labor issues into personnel matters. This is not acceptable.”
In light of this, he said, the Board must take immediate action to address the inappropriate and subversive campaign influencing its office.
"Mr. Callagy has supported and empowered the group of employees he refers to as the 'good old boys' system of the previous administration," she noted.
Finally, Sheriff Corpus detailed that in her letter to the Board of Supervisors she has formally requested that an independent investigation be launched into Mike Callagy, "If the Board does not act, I will have no choice but to take this matter to the state level.".
He also said he has requested immediate funding to provide legal counsel to represent the Sheriff's Office.
"The Board must take immediate action to address the inappropriate and subversive campaign to influence my office and under my authority as sheriff."
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