In the news

This page contains news article for those interested in all facets of law enforcement oversight and reform. These articles span all states and cover police departments as well as Sheriff's departments. We're providing this information for those who wish to better understand why oversight is needed, the challenges it faces, and where and how it has improved the communities that have adopted it. News articles from external sources will open in a new tab.

Incarcerated people deserve family visitation

PRESS STATEMENT FROM FIXIN’ SAN MATEO COUNTY

San Mateo County, CA — For months, elevator issues at Maguire Jail have blocked in-person family visits, denying incarcerated individuals vital human connection — an unconscionable failure.

Today Fixin’ received a complaint from a mother whose son is incarcerated, stating, “[Elevators] have been out of order since the middle of June, and it’s going on close to two months now.  I have tried video visit with my son, but that is a pathetic system when you only see his face in a little square the size of a postage stamp. It also glitches out if either one of us move our faces even an inch.”

In-person visitation is a critical component of successful rehabilitation. It fosters hope, strengthens family bonds, and is proven to reduce recidivism — outcomes that benefit not just incarcerated individuals, but public safety as a whole.

This is unacceptable and we urge the Sheriff to find a way to immediately allow these visits to resume while the elevator repairs are underway. There are other elevators and there are stairs, and the Sheriff’s Office must find a way to allow families to visit while maintaining security. Fixin’ Board Chair Jim Lawrence says, “It appears from the outside as though the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t care enough to find a workaround.”

Media Contact
Jim Lawrence
Fixin’ San Mateo County
408-590-0429
jtlawrence94404@yahoo.com

Sheriff Corpus removal hearing scheduled for August; public access still in question

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus will face a formal removal hearing Aug. 18-29 after the Board of Supervisors voted to remove her from office last month, county officials confirmed on Friday.

Corpus requested the hearing be closed, according to county spokesperson Effie Milionis Verducci. However, the “county is evaluating the request; it has not been determined yet whether the hearing will be open or closed,” Verducci told this news organization. She did not provide a timeline for when a decision would be made.

Jim Lawrence, a former Foster City mayor and a member of civilian oversight group Fixin’ San Mateo County, said the possible closed-door nature of the hearing raises transparency concerns.

Read the full story at The San Jose Mercury News

Accusations Against Sheriff Corpus Underscores Urgent Need for Real Oversight

San Mateo County, CA — The recent accusation against Sheriff Christina Corpus by the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury is not just a singular crisis — it is a symptom of a much deeper problem: the continued failure of our county leadership to implement meaningful, independent civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Office.

For three years, Fixin’ San Mateo County has urged the Board of Supervisors to establish a Civilian Oversight Commission and appoint an independent Inspector General. The tools have been available since 2020, when the California Legislature passed AB 1185 to empower counties with the authority to oversee their sheriffs. But instead of embracing this opportunity to strengthen public trust and accountability, the Board chose inaction.

While the creation of the Independent Civilian Advisory Committee (ICAC) was a step in the right direction, it was ultimately powerless — lacking the authority, resources, or mandate to investigate misconduct or issue findings. Now, reports allege that Sheriff Corpus interfered in internal investigations involving deputy misconduct, leaving the department in turmoil and public trust badly shaken.

“This is not about one person — it’s about an entire system that has resisted transparency for too long,” said Jim Lawrence, Board Chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County. “We need to act now to rebuild trust and ensure no future sheriff, regardless of who they are, can operate without independent accountability. Oversight protects the public and supports the good officers who serve with integrity every day.”

Fixin’ San Mateo County is calling on the Board of Supervisors to:

  • Immediately strengthen the ICAC by granting it full investigatory powers, a clear mandate, and the resources to operate effectively.
  • Appoint an independent Inspector General with subpoena authority who reports to the public through a truly independent structure — not to the Sheriff.
  • Establish a transparent reform timeline with regular public updates and opportunities for community input.

Counties like Los Angeles and Sonoma have implemented strong oversight models that work — models that improve morale, reward integrity, and build trust between departments and the communities they serve. San Mateo County can do the same.

Media Contact
Jim Lawrence
Fixin’ San Mateo County
408-590-0429
jtlawrence94404@yahoo.com
www.fixinsmc.org

Civil grand jury accuses San Mateo County sheriff of misconduct

The San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury has accused Corpus of a conflict of interest pertaining to the hiring and supervision of her department’s former executive director of administration, Victor Aenlle, with whom she had a close personal relationship. The grand jury also accused Corpus of three counts of retaliation, pertaining to the termination of former assistant sheriff Ryan Monaghan, the transfer of Captain Brian Philip, and the arrest of Deputy Carlos Tapia, the president of the deputy sheriff’s association.

Read the full story at NBC Bay Area

Sheriff arrives at courthouse where the grand jury is meeting

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who is battling corruption allegations, arrived at the private door of the San Mateo County Superior Court at the Government Center in Redwood City on Friday morning.

Upstairs, the county’s civil grand jury was meeting to consider whether to recommend her removal from office. If the grand jury decides to issue an “accusation” against her, the case would proceed to a jury trial.

The Post wasn’t able to determine whether she appeared before the grand jury on Friday. Grand jury proceedings are secret.

Read the full story at Palo Alto Daily Post

Sheriff files suit against DA after she’s subpoenaed to testify before civil grand jury

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corps is trying to stop two attempts to remove her removal from office — including trying to shield herself from testifying before a civil grand jury. Corpus had been subpoenaed to testify before the civil grand jury on Tuesday, but her attorneys filed a motion to stop her testimony, claiming that District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s office ought to be recused since he is acting as both the administrator of the civil grand jury and as prosecutor.

Read the full story at Palo Alto Daily Post

San Mateo County sheriff subpoenaed to grand jury

Sheriff Christina Corpus is requesting the recusal of District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe from any prosecutorial role and administration of civil grand jury proceedings regarding the sheriff, according to a claim filed with the courts Monday. On May 28, Wagstaffe subpoenaed Corpus — who may be the first sheriff removed from office in California’s history over allegations of misconduct — to appear for the civil grand jury to “testify as a witness in a pending investigation” on June 10. 

Read the full story at The San Mateo Daily Journal