San Mateo County

San Mateo County Sheriff's Office captains call on Christina Corpus to resign

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Add five captains reporting to Christina Corpus to the growing list calling on the San Mateo County sheriff to resign following the release of a scathing independent report detailing allegations against her office.

County supervisors on Thursday released new details about another allegation outlined in the report examining the sheriff's leadership.

"We stand here today in appreciation for Supervisor Mueller and the board of supervisors who have given a voice to the voiceless within our organization," San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Capt. Mark Myers said Thursday alongside Mueller and another captain calling for Corpus' resignation. "And to show support for the men and women of the sheriff's office who continue to show up to work and do a tremendous job everyday under difficult circumstances."

Mueller pointed out, except for the undersheriff, Corpus' entire command staff has either resigned or a called for her to quit. This all comes in the wake of a 400-page report released last week that alleges the sheriff's administration is marred by a pattern of lies, retaliation, and abuses of authority.

Supervisors earlier this week voted to hold a special election asking voters to give them the power to remove Corpus from office.

On Thursday, supervisors also announced a police captain who resigned after being ordered to arrest the head of the deputies union has also filed a claim against the county.

"County taxpayers simply cannot afford the financial liability of a sheriff we cannot trust," Mueller said. "We cannot afford the dysfunction from a sheriff we cannot trust."

San Mateo County Assistant Sheriff Matthew Fox resigned Friday in the wake of calls for Sheriff Christina Corpus to step down. Earlier this week, the county released a 400-page report on the findings of an independent investigation by retired Judge Ladoris Cordell that included what Cordell says is evidence of abuse by the sheriff's office and staff. NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai spoke with Investigative Reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken to understand the details in the report.

Supervisors also released a memo from Undersheriff Dan Parea, which said the former chief of staff, Victor Aenlle, called him a week ago and was concerned about the rifles located inside a gun safe in the executive office.

Aenlle allegedly said "This is how they are going to try and get me" and asked Parea to change the code to the safe. The undersheriff said in a memo he would not and asked Aenlle to stop contacting him.

Corpus did not respond to NBC Bay Area's request for comment on Thursday, but has denied all the allegations against her multiple times. The sheriff this week said "The 'Good Ol' Boy' system has met its match in me. I will not back down."

Mueller responded to that claim on Thursday, noting her own people are now among those calling for her ousting.

"Four of the five captains who voted to ask Sheriff Corpus to resign are individuals she promoted to captain," Mueller said. "Some of them she brought to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office."

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