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