The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Tuesday called on Sheriff Christina Corpus to resign based on recommendations of an independent investigation into allegations of abuse of power in her department.
The investigative report by retired California Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell revealed additional charges of intimidation, retaliation and conflicts of interest.
Corpus and her Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle are also accused of having a personal relationship.
The report concluded with a recommendation that “Sheriff Corpus step down and that Victor Aenlle’s employment by the sheriff’s office be terminated immediately. Nothing short of new leadership can save this organization.”
The announcement came just minutes after Sheriff Corpus announced the arrest of San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Carlos Tapia.
“No one is above the law. We are committed to accountability at every level. While these actions are difficult, they are necessary to uphold the integrity and trust of our office, and our community,” said Sheriff’s Corpus.
While the sheriff’s announcement did not go into any details about the arrest, the Mercury News reported that Tapia turned himself in on charges of felony grand theft.
Tapia spoke following the sheriff’s presser on his arrest.
“I will continue to faithfully represent the interest of our union members and I will look forward to the district attorney’s review of this investigation,” he said. “And I’m confident I will be vindicated.”
Tapia was released on a bond and has been placed on administrative leave, the Sheriff’s Office said. His case will be forwarded to the county District Attorney’s Office for review.
On Tuesday, the union along with the San Mateo County Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants condemned Tapia’s arrest, saying it has “all the earmarks of whistleblower retaliation” in the wake of Cordell’s report.
The ongoing dispute between the sheriff and the two unions first surfaced in September when San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association
aired their grievances
against Sheriff Corpus and Chief of Staff Aenlle.
The DSA and the Office of Sheriff’s Sergeants both accused Aenlle of creating a toxic work environment and interfering with protected union activities. The deputies’ union also filed unfair labor practice complaints with the California Public Employment Relations Board.
The PERB complaints allege the Sheriff’s Office changed its minimum staffing level policy without union input and refused to meet about an expiring overtime policy.
A week later, Sheriff Corpus and the county Board of Supervisors
released separate statements about the spat
.
In her statement
, Corpus struck a defiant tone and said she refused to consider removing her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle, over what she called “political games.”
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will be announcing a special board meeting to consider the potential next steps to resolve the issues with the sheriff’s department.
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