Taking over a department rocked by back-to-back scandals, Binder said he would support recommendations from the county’s civilian oversight commission for reform and work with community groups such as Fixin’ San Mateo County, which has long advocated for an independent inspector general.
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.
San Mateo County supervisors pick three finalists for sheriff after Corpus’ historic ouster
Thursday’s special meeting marked the start of the final phase of the selection process for a new sheriff. Supervisors narrowed the field from six qualified candidates to three finalists. The new sheriff will serve through 2028.
Fixin’ San Mateo County and other community leaders urge SMC Board of Supervisors to appoint a sheriff committed to transparency and accountability
San Mateo County, CA — As the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors prepares to appoint the next Sheriff, community members and civic organizations are calling on the Board to select a leader who embodies the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and public accountability.
The appointment of a new sheriff is a pivotal moment for the county. Residents have expressed a clear demand for reform, transparency in law enforcement practices, and stronger mechanisms for community oversight. The new sheriff must be prepared to engage the public openly, welcome independent review, and operate with full accountability to the people of San Mateo County.
“We need a sheriff who understands that public trust is earned through transparency and consistent engagement with the community,” said Jim Lawrence, Board Chair of Fixin’ SMC. “This appointment must reflect not only professional competence but a genuine commitment to equity, openness, and ethical leadership.”
Advocates are also urging the Board of Supervisors to utilize the authority granted under Assembly Bill 1185 (AB 1185), which enables counties to establish independent sheriff oversight boards and inspectors general. Implementing AB 1185 in conjunction with the new appointment would demonstrate the Board’s commitment to building lasting structures of accountability and independent oversight.
“This is a critical opportunity for the Board to set a new standard for transparency in San Mateo County,” said Nancy Goodban, Executive Director of Fixin’ SMC. “By pairing the appointment with an AB 1185 oversight mechanism, the Board can ensure that the Sheriff’s Office remains accountable to the community it serves.”
Community leaders emphasize that the Board’s decision will shape public confidence in law enforcement for years to come. The call is for a sheriff who reflects the county’s values—integrity, fairness, and service to all residents—and who will partner with the public to advance safety, trust, and justice.
Call to Action
We encourage all San Mateo County residents to participate by attending the public meetings, submitting comments, and voicing support for the adoption of AB 1185 oversight provisions. The future of fair and transparent law enforcement in our county depends on our collective engagement and insistence on integrity in leadership.
Media Contact
Jim Lawrence
Fixin’ San Mateo County
408-590-0429
jtlawrence94404@yahoo.com
San Mateo Co. supervisors move to appoint new sheriff by Nov. 13 after removing Christina Corpus
In a split decision, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors moved forward with the option to make a long-term appointment for the next sheriff during a special meeting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s meeting comes two weeks after the board unanimously ousted elected Sheriff Christina Corpus on Oct. 14. Undersheriff Dan Perea, who was hired by Corpus, has assumed the sheriff’s duties but won’t be elevated to the title of interim sheriff.
Judge once again denies Corpus’ bid to stop her firing
On October 28, a judge denied Christina Corpus’ latest attempt to be reinstated as sheriff after she was fired by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for corruption.
San Mateo County sheriff removed by supervisors, first time in California
To ensure lasting change, [Supervisor] Speier said she is “more and more convinced” the county needs a full-time, independent civilian inspector general — a reform long advocated by citizen groups amid the sheriff’s office’s history of scandal.
It is time for a permanent inspector general
San Mateo County, CA , October 14, 2025 — Given the Board of Supervisors vote today to remove Sheriff Corpus from her position, Fixin’ SMC calls on the Board to hire an expert in sheriff oversight, also known as an inspector general, on a permanent basis to provide sheriff accountability and transparency.
When the Board had the chance to appoint an inspector general and an oversight board in 2023, it instead established the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office (ICAC). ICAC has advised the Board to hire an inspector general to provide independent review of policies and practices, looking at incidents and responding to complaints from deputies, civilian staff, and the community.
Fixin’ Board Chair Jim Lawrence said, “The Board can’t do it all—and it shouldn’t have to. We need a truly independent body to investigate concerns raised by the community and deputies. The Board has already turned to outside investigators before and now it’s time to make that independence permanent.”
Choosing our next sheriff shouldn’t happen behind closed doors. Fixin’ San Mateo County urges the Board to engage the community in this process. The people, and the deputies who serve them, deserve leadership rooted in integrity, transparency, and accountability.
ICAC supports both these positions, as does the Coalition for a Safer San Mateo County (CSSMC), which includes 26 organizations including the ACLU of Northern California, Faith in Action Bay Area, the NAACP San Mateo County Chapter, the San Mateo County Democratic Party, and many more. CCSMC has also stated the need for a sheriff who is genuinely committed to accountability to the people of San Mateo County, including a willingness to work with an inspector general.
Fixin’ San Mateo County does not take a position on individual sheriffs or candidates for sheriff, because the need for transparency and accountability is universal and constant. Checks and balances are simply a matter of good governance. Independent civilian review with the support of our elected officials is a baseline requirement for any county that values fairness, civil rights, and strong relationships between law enforcement and the broader community.
Media Contact
Jim Lawrence
Fixin’ San Mateo County
408-590-0429
jtlawrence94404@yahoo.com
Independent Hearing Officer Finds Cause to Remove Sheriff Christina Corpus
An advisory opinion issued today by retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Emerson finds multiple causes to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from Office under the County Charter of San Mateo County.
In his opinion, Emerson concluded that Corpus used her office to benefit Victor Aenlle with whom she has a close personal relationship outside the boundaries of a professional working relationship, directed the arrest of the deputy sheriffs’ union president without probable cause and retaliated against a captain who refused to take part in what he believed to be an unlawful personnel action.
Civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Office is needed more than ever
October 6, 2025
San Mateo County, CA — Given the recommendation of retired Judge Emerson that the Board of Supervisors remove Sheriff Corpus from her position, Fixin’ San Mateo County wishes to remind the Board that:
- The Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office (ICAC), which the Board of Supervisors created specifically to make recommendations regarding the Sheriff’s Office, has urged them to hire a permanent Inspector General.
- The Coalition for a Safer San Mateo County (CSSMC), represented by signatures from 26 diverse community organizations, has made clear the need for a sheriff who is genuinely committed to accountability to the people of San Mateo County, including a willingness to work with an Inspector General.
- The CSSMC, which includes the ACLU of Northern California, Faith in Action Bay Area, the NAACP San Mateo County Chapter, the San Mateo County Democratic Party, and many more groups, has called for community engagement in the selection of the next sheriff.
Fixin’ San Mateo County does not take a position on individual sheriffs or candidates for sheriff, because the need for transparency and accountability is universal and constant. Checks and balances are simply a matter of good governance. Independent civilian review with the support of our elected officials is a baseline requirement for any county that values fairness, civil rights, and strong relationships between law enforcement and the broader community.
Media Contact
Jim Lawrence
Fixin’ San Mateo County
408-590-0429
jtlawrence94404@yahoo.com
Another death at county jail
A 31-year-old woman in custody at the Maple Street Correctional Center died Monday morning, the Sheriff’s Office said, marking the seventh death within three years.