Investigation Into Bay Area Sheriff’s Complaints Clears County Executive

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The San Mateo County board of supervisors released the findings of an independent investigation Thursday into complaints made by the sheriff against a County executive that clears him of all misconduct accusations, the report stated.

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus filed a complaint in the Fall of 2024 against County Executive Officer Michael Callagy accusing him of abuse of power, sexual discrimination and bullying tactics, according to the complaint.

The board of supervisors voted unanimously to release the report and end the investigation into the complaint.

The investigation, conducted by the law firm Oppenheimer Investigations Group, focused on Corpus’ claims that Callagy had asked about her romantic relationships, negotiated overtime for sheriff personnel without discussing it with her, blocked the firing of a Sheriff employee, and treated Corpus differently due to her race, ethnicity and gender, the report stated.

Corpus claimed Callagy discussed overtime compensation “without having [the Sheriff] at the table [and she] was never consulted before the final agreement.” The report provided documents showing Corpus was copied in emails and during negotiations “Callagy was deferential to Corpus.”

The report also stated that Corpus’ claims about being treated differently because of her race, ethnicity or gender were “based on broad, sweeping statements without providing a factual basis for the assertion.”

Corpus said she is standing by her complaints.

As for blocking the firing of a Sheriff employee, Corpus hired Ryan Monaghan as her assistant sheriff upon recommendation from Callagy, who had worked with Monaghan at the San Mateo Police Department for 19 years. Last September, Corpus fired Monaghan but Callagy blocked the firing, which the Oppenheimer report found he was justified in doing out of concern for a lawsuit Monaghan could file if terminated. In the meantime, Monaghan is earning over $460,000 a year in salary and benefits while waiting to be assigned, according to ABC7News.

The board of supervisors are still in the process of possibly removing Corpus from her position following accusations of her misconduct. The county passed Measure A which gives the board temporary power to remove her after several steps are followed. Corpus denies all accusations.