By Alise Maripuu. Bay City News.
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San Carlos has become the first city in San Mateo County to call for the resignation of Sheriff Christina Corpus after the City Council unanimously adopted a position of no confidence in the sheriff on Monday.
“It is nothing short of a total failure of leadership,” Mayor John Dugan said at Monday’s council meeting.
The city joined a growing list of state and local leaders urging Corpus to resign after a scathing 400-page investigation by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell was released two weeks ago, containing findings of abuse of power, retaliation, intimidation, homophobia and racism in Corpus’ tenure.
“The findings in Judge Cordell’s report are serious and undeniable,” said Councilman Ron Collins. “This is not about race, color or gender. This is about accountability and nothing else. The cost to San Mateo County taxpayers increases every day that she delays her resignation. I believe it is time for her to at least acknowledge the damage that is being done to the county in terms of public safety, public trust, security and county treasury, and resign immediately.”
San Carlos does not have its own police department. Instead, it has relied on the Sheriff's Office, which has provided public safety services in the city since 2010.
“These are dedicated men and women who keep us safe every day in positions that can sometimes be very dangerous,” Collins said. “They serve our residents, who are our constituents. So when their well-being is compromised, that becomes our issue. Our primary responsibility as council members and city officials is to ensure the public safety of our residents.”
The council heard comments from two members of the public before agreeing to officially ask for Corpus' resignation.
One of them was Bruce Cumming, a San Carlos resident and former police chief of Menlo Park and Morgan Hill with a 40-year career in law enforcement throughout the Bay Area.
“This whole situation at the Sheriff’s Office is reprehensible. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Cumming said. “Sheriff Corpus ran for office on a platform of transparency and reform… Her slogan was, ‘A Sheriff You Can Trust.’ It turns out that none of that platform was true. I’m sure the organization is in disarray. Morale is low. Staffing is unacceptable, with over 100 vacant positions and the recruiting prospects for those positions are dismal. It appears Sheriff Corpus is overextended and a sheriff who cannot be trusted.”
Since Corpus took office in 2023, more than 100 sworn staff members have left the Sheriff’s Office, including Undersheriff Chris Hsiung and Deputy Sheriff Matthew Fox. In September, Corpus fired Deputy Sheriff Ryan Monaghan, who was involved in the Cordell investigation, suggesting possible retaliation, county Supervisor Ray Mueller said in a statement.
“At least 106 sworn staff members have left the agency and approximately half of them are not eligible to retire, which is highly unusual,” San Carlos Administrative Services Director Rebecca Mendenhall said during her presentation to City Council summarizing the report. “While the Sheriff’s Office has been able to maintain our staffing levels as outlined in our agreement, it is not certain that this is sustainable given staffing issues and significant staff turnover.”
The other person to speak during public comment was Liz Lange, who urged the council not to take a position of censure on Corpus.
“No other city or town in the county has formally asked for the sheriff to resign, because it is not up to city staff or council members to decide, but rather it is up to the voters of this county to take action,” Lange said. “The county Board of Supervisors and county leaders are attempting to remove the sheriff themselves through a charter amendment that has a sunset clause, clearly intended as a way to bypass the voters. This is, without a doubt, a subversion of democracy… This matter should be left solely to the people who hired the sheriff, the voters.”
The Board of Supervisors is seeking to remove Corpus by adopting a charter amendment that would give them the power to force the sheriff to resign, but that would expire in 2029. However, the amendment would have to be approved by voters in a special election in March.
One of Corpus's leading critics, Carlos Tapia, president of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriffs Association union, was also present at Monday's City Council meeting. He was pleased to see the city speak out and take a stand against the sheriff.
“On behalf of the Deputy Sheriffs Association, I appreciate the support that the San Carlos City Council has shown in their vote of no confidence in Sheriff Corpus,” Tapia wrote in a statement. “It is heartwarming to see the concern that our local leaders have for what is happening in our community, examining the facts of Judge Cordell’s report and coming to their own conclusion about what they support.”
Tapia was arrested by Corpus on suspicion of grand larceny under false pretenses. The union said his arrest had “all the hallmarks of retaliation against a whistleblower” in the wake of Cordell’s report.
“What I most hope is that our sheriff and her team will also consider what would be best for our community going forward,” Tapia said. “It is imperative that they consider the high standard we agreed to uphold when we were sworn in as law enforcement officers and that any standard less than that puts our officers and residents at risk.”
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Sergeants Organization, or OSS, is another union that represents sheriff’s sergeants and lieutenants. They also filed a unanimous vote of no confidence Sunday against Corpus and his top leaders, including Undersheriff Dan Perea and his chief of staff Victor Aenlle. Aenlle is named throughout the report and is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Corpus.
“We are witnessing the destruction of the Sheriff’s Office and deteriorating morale due to corruption and lies told by Sheriff Corpus,” the union wrote in a statement. “Collectively, OSS members remain united in the decision to demand the immediate resignation of Sheriff Corpus and her executive team.”
Corpus did not respond to a request for comment. However, he issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating his intentions to remain in office. He did not directly address the San Carlos City Council's decision.
“I will not resign nor allow this institution to be politicized or influenced by special interests,” he wrote. “Resigning from my position or surrendering the independence of this Office is not the answer. Such actions would set a dangerous precedent that would jeopardize the progress we have made and the meaningful change our voters entrusted me to bring about.”
He also briefly mentioned that he is attempting to take steps to repair relationships within and outside the Sheriff's Office while keeping his remaining leadership in charge.
“I am moving forward with a restructured leadership team. The sheriff’s deputies, along with Undersheriff Perea, will lead with a renewed focus on rebuilding internal and external relationships while driving our strategic initiatives,” Corpus said.
But his two sheriff’s deputies, Fox and Monaghan, are no longer with the department. While the board attempted to fire Aenlle by eliminating the chief of staff position two weeks ago, Corpus stated that he would promote him to deputy sheriff. The board does not believe Aenlle is qualified to serve in that role, as he is not a sworn officer.
San Carlos' decision to take a position of no confidence against Corpus does not actually change anything, but the council hopes it will increase pressure on her to resign.
In addition to Corpus' request for resignation, the city will also provide lunches and dinners for the next two weeks for Sheriff's Office personnel, both sworn and civilian, who are assigned to serve in San Carlos.
“All we can do is help give their voice another microphone and another outlet,” said City Manager Jeff Maltbie. “They’re out there every day, risking their lives, putting themselves on the line for us. They need our help. They’ve asked for it out loud in the only way they can.”
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