San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies allege that their beleaguered boss, Christina Corpus, retaliated against them by reassigning officers who voiced their support during a press conference this week for her potential removal in a special election next month, according to a statement sent to media on Friday.
In an internal memo from Corpus that was released by the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Mateo County, the sheriff stated that personnel were transferred to “provide opportunity for learning new skills and honing abilities.”
“We will also have an opportunity for career development, which will allow staff to expand their skill sets and become more adaptable and versatile to ensure we can provide the highest level of service to our community,” the memo said.
The deputies’ association, however, claimed the reassignments targeted staff who had served “more than three years in a specialty assignment” and were “likely to be rotated out of their position.”
“Many of these assignments are highly specialized, requiring extensive training and experience,” the association said. “The timing of this announcement is striking, as it disproportionately targets the most vocal critics of the sheriff, including two individuals who had spoken at the press conference earlier that day.”
The sheriff’s department said the standard tenure for specialty assignments is five years.
“This practice has allowed personnel to acquire the necessary skills and experience to be truly effective in their roles, with assignments also offering pay incentives,” the union said. “This announcement came without any prior communication from Sheriff Corpus or her Undersheriff, Dan Perea, to the unions representing the affected employees, as required by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and labor law.”
In a statement to this news organization, Corpus denied the reassignments were an act of retaliation.
“The decision to provide transfer opportunities for specialty positions was not a response to the Feb. 5 press conference. The transfer form was created in early January 2025, which is documented and verifiable,” Corpus said. “Additionally, my executive team and I worked with Human Resources and the County Counsel’s Office on this matter, which is also documented.”
At the press conference, sheriff unions and county leaders endorsed Measure A. If approved by voters, the measure would grant the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors the authority to remove the sheriff for “repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of public funds or property, falsification of official documents, or obstruction of any investigation into her conduct or that of her office.” Ballots are already being mailed to voters.
If passed, Measure A would make San Mateo County the first in the Bay Area to grant the Board of Supervisors the power to remove an elected sheriff. The authority would remain in effect until 2028, the end of Corpus’ term.
Should the sheriff be removed, the Board of Supervisors would have 30 days to appoint a replacement or call a special election. If the board fails to act, the county elections officer will call the special election, according to the San Mateo County charter.
The complaint is the latest development in a protracted political drama centered on Corpus. Controversies surrounding the county’s first Latina sheriff began late last year when deputies and union members accused her of misconduct, corruption, and workplace harassment.
In response to the allegations, the county commissioned an independent audit led by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell. In November, the county released a 400-page report that alleged Corpus had an inappropriate relationship with her former chief of staff, retaliated against officers and employees, and used racist and homophobic slurs in the workplace. The report also cited the possession of rifles with silencers and questionable real estate dealings.
Meanwhile, the city of San Mateo became the third in the county to unanimously pass a resolution of no confidence in Corpus, following Millbrae earlier this week and San Carlos last November.
“I am so saddened that we are here, but I believe that Sheriff Corpus and her actions have denigrated our community’s public safety efforts,” said San Mateo Councilmember Lisa Diaz Nash, a former mayor. “I have come to the conclusion that there is no alternative but to support a no-confidence resolution.”
The controversies have also sparked a slew of legal cases between the county and the sheriff.
The latest legal case against Corpus comes from former Captain Brian Philip, who filed a complaint alleging retaliation by the sheriff, mainly for his refusal to arrest union president Carlos Tapia for alleged timecard fraud. Philip, who resigned last year, alleged that both Corpus and Assistant Sheriff Victor Aenlle, her former chief of staff, were involved in the retaliation.
Last December, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe declined to file charges against Tapia.
In January, Corpus filed a petition to halt the March election. In December, she filed a $10 million claim against the county for alleged discrimination, harassment, and defamation. Both cases are pending.