Board Of Supervisors Vote To Remove Bay Area Sheriff

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Thursday to remove the sheriff accused of misconduct.

With all five supervisors present the board voted 5-0 to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus. Within the next five days, the San Mateo County chief probation officer will hold a pre-removal conference to discuss the allegations with Corpus.

Corpus has refuted all accusations from the start.

In San Mateo County, Measure A, a one-time amendment to the County Charter, was approved on March 4, giving supervisors the authority to remove the sheriff for specific reasons such as legal violations, negligence, misappropriation of funds, document falsification, or obstructing investigations.

Supervisors met on April 8 to deliberate the possible removal of Corpus, who faces allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and creating a toxic work environment, all of which she denies. Then, on May 6, they approved the procedures for removing an elected sheriff.

A notice of intent to remove Corpus was sent to each board member and to the sheriff herself on Monday, a press release stated. Corpus has the option to appeal and request a comprehensive evidentiary hearing, during which both sides can present witnesses. A designated officer will provide an opinion within 30 days following the hearing, and the county supervisors will make the final decision, requiring a four-fifths supermajority for approval.

San Mateo County’s external counsel, Alfonso Estrada, emphasized that the removal process includes “several independent checks” to ensure “fundamental fairness” for both the county and the sheriff.

Conversely, a report commissioned by Corpus, and released on April 25 by former Judge Burke Strunsky, contests the validity of Measure A and the Cordell report. In response, SMC communications officer Marshall Wilson suggested that the Strunsky report implies Corpus believes she is exempt from oversight and her own policies.

Additionally, an independent investigation report released on May 22 by the Board of Supervisors dismissed all misconduct accusations made by the Sheriff against a County executive.

Corpus on Wednesday named her new assistant sheriff.