REDWOOD CITY, California – Two San Mateo County supervisors released an independent report Tuesday calling for Sheriff Christina Corpus to resign amid allegations of misconduct.

Prior to the release of the report, Corpus Sheriff held a preemptive press conference regarding the arrest of San Mateo Deputy Sheriffs Association President Carlos Tapia, the latest development in a ongoing rift between the sheriff’s department and county executives.

Prior to the sheriff’s press conference, San Mateo Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller had scheduled a 4 p.m. press conference to announce the findings of the report on the allegations filed against the sheriff’s office.

At her news conference, Corpus addressed Tapia’s arrest on suspicion of grand theft by false pretenses. He appears to have falsified the time sheets. The sheriff’s office had no further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Tapia was released on bond and placed on administrative leave, the Sheriff’s Office said. His case will be forwarded to the County Prosecutor’s Office for examination.

On Tuesday, the union, along with the San Mateo County Organization of Sheriffs’ Sergeants, condemned Tapia’s arrest, saying it had “all the hallmarks of whistleblower retaliation” following a report released Tuesday by the county’s Board of Supervisors, written by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, who investigated the union’s complaints against Chief of Civilian Personnel Victor Aenlle.

Tapia has been a vocal critic of the sheriff’s office and its administration.

“This is no coincidence,” said the MPs’ union, which claimed Corpus “abused her power and the public trust” by allegedly violating a conflict of interest policy that requires the Attorney General’s Office to handle allegations of criminal misconduct from the sheriff. Office workers. Instead, the union said, she arrested the deputy herself.

The supervisors would later say at their press conference that Tapia was arrested without a warrant.

“DSA San Mateo condemns acts of retaliation against any San Mateo employee for speaking out against misconduct by elected officials and will vigorously defend President Tapia against these allegations.”

At her first news conference, Sheriff Corpus addressed the sheriff’s department holding itself to the same standard they hold others to.

“I will not turn a blind eye when credible evidence suggests a crime has been committed, whether it’s a member of the public or a trusted member of our office,” Corpus said. “There has been speculation and concern about potential conflicts of interest involving internal and external figures who have spoken out in connection with this investigation.”

Corpus goes on to say that County Executive Mike Callagy and Supt. Mueller is known to be friends with Tapia. Corpus called out Callagy and Mueller by name and urged them to stay on the right side of the law.

In September, Corpus sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors accusing Callagy of retaliation, abuse of power, sexual discrimination and harassment. Just days before the letter was sent, council members asked questions Corpus summons of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghansaying it may have been in retaliation for participating in an outside sheriff’s office investigation.

“There have been reports of closed-door meetings. These allegations, whether factual or fabricated, raise questions about attempts to undermine the investigation and leadership of my office,” Corpus said. “I want to be clear, any attempt to derail justice through backroom deals, unfounded claims or personal agendas will not succeed.”

DSA President Carlos Tapia

She said she would apply the law fairly and impartially.

Shortly after Corpus initially spoke, the supervisors held their press conference. Supervisors Corzo and Mueller released the retired judge’s report on the leadership and conduct of the sheriff’s office, calling it “troubling” and “warranting immediate action.”

The investigation stemmed from a flood of complaints, supervisors said. They said the report focused on allegations of abuse of power, intimidation, retaliation and conflicts of interest, and that Aenlle was central to those complaints.

Supervisors said, according to the report, that Aenlle abused his authority repeatedly with the knowledge and approval of Sheriff Corpus, and that the sheriff chose not to speak to the judge about this investigation even though he was given the opportunity.

Supervisors said 12 of the 15 charges against sheriff’s office management were upheld by the judge. They also claim the sheriff’s personal relationship with Aenlle violates the county’s nepotism policy. Corpus has denied the relationship, although watchdogs say the report claims the relationship has existed since 2021.

The report found that the sheriff also used racial and homophobic slurs on the job. During their press conference, supervisors displayed the language used by the sheriff over text messages or that were spoken on a projector.

A report shows the Corpus sheriff has uttered and texted racial and homophobic slurs at work.

According to the report, in January or February 2022, then Captain Corpus entered the employee’s office while a Zoom meeting was taking place. An unidentified civilian employee’s screen was disabled while watching the meeting. Corpus said the N-word to Sheriff Carlos Bolanos twice in the civilian employee’s ear. The report says Corpus knows the civilian employee’s son is biracial and identifies as African-American. He also volunteered for Corpus’ campaign for sheriff. The civil servant was stunned and angry, but remained silent for fear of retaliation, the report said.

During the summer of 2022, the report found that Corpus sent the civil servant text messages criticizing a local councilor, calling him a “fuzz bumper”, a homophobic slur aimed at lesbians.

The supervisors said the retired judge concluded that fear of reprisal is “used in the organization” and that “the Corpus-Aenlle administration is obsessed with a loyalty that borders on paranoia.”

Dinner. Corzo said Cordell’s report indicated that the Corpus sheriff should resign and that Aenlle’s employment with the sheriff’s office would be terminated immediately.

Cordell’s report also found that Aenlle did not meet service requirements, engaged in outside employment that was not approved and improperly possessed rifles. The report also concludes that Aenlle is improperly wearing a badge he is not authorized to wear, and that both he and Corpus improperly distributed honor badges and identification cards to civilians.

The board meets Wednesday at 4 p.m. Mueller said he could consider impeaching the sheriff or asking him to resign. Additionally, they may request that Aenlle be removed from his role and that the report be sent to a civil grand jury and the DA’s office. The board doesn’t have the authority to remove the sheriff, but it can seek a charter amendment in an election to ask voters for the authority to do so, Mueller said.

Sheriff Corpus held a second news conference after supervisors revealed details of the retired judge’s findings. She said she would not resign, denied the allegations against her and claimed she was dealing with “a good ol’ boy system in this county that is corrupt”.

“I am a black woman who has risen through the ranks in a male-dominated field. This is nothing new to me,” Corpus responded at the second press conference. She called Cordell’s report biased and said it was commissioned by the county and the county attorney who is supposed to represent her. “I don’t have legal representation right now.”

Corpus said there is a vendetta against her by people who don’t want to see her in office.

“Other members of the organization contacted Judge Cordell and were rebuffed,” Corpus said. “Imagine if we turned people away who wanted to file a report. That’s not right.”

We’ll update this story with the latest details as they develop.

You can find Cordell’s report as part of the Board’s agenda packet for the November 13 meeting, Here.

Bay City News contributed to this report.