Crime & Safety
SMC Sheriff Reports Drop In Use Of Force By Deputies
Incidents involving the use of force by San Mateo County deputies have steadily declined since 2022, according to the sheriff's office.
SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Use of force by deputies and correctional officers continued to decline last year in San Mateo County, marking three consecutive years of the downward trend, according to the sheriff's office.
Data released this week by Sheriff Christina Corpus showed 71 use-of-force incidents in 2024, down from 107 in 2023, 127 in 2022 and 137 in 2021. The sheriff's office classifies incidents by the level of force used, from "empty hand control" to "less than lethal" and "lethal" force.
The sheriff said no deputies have deployed lethal force in recent years and attributed the sustained declines to better training and successful community partnerships.
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"Building trust with our communities is essential, and I'm pleased to share that our use of force numbers are down significantly," Corpus said in a statement Thursday. "Over the last few years, we have made significant investments in de-escalation training for our personnel, going above and beyond the industry standard."
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