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 court rejects Sheriff Corpus’ effort to halt removal process

A San Mateo County court rejected embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus’ attempt to block removal proceedings against her, County Attorney John Nibbelin announced during a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. “The court denied the petition for a TRO (temporary restraining order),” Nibbelin said. “The court indicated that it would be premature to rule on matters as such.” According to Nibbelin, the temporary restraining order was denied on procedural grounds rather than on the substance of the filing. Corpus’ attorneys argued the removal process violates her right to due process and pledged to continue challenging it in court.

Read the full story at The San Jose Mercury News

Fixin’ San Mateo County Calls for Public Release of Notice of Intent to Remove Sheriff

San Mateo County, CA – Fixin’ San Mateo County strongly urges Sheriff Christina Corpus to remove her objection to the public release of the 59-page Notice of Intent to Remove the Sheriff (NOI).

At today’s special meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office, based on the allegations delineated in the NOI. The County had offered Sheriff Corpus the opportunity to keep the NOI secret, and her attorneys asked to do so. Sheriff Corpus campaigned on a platform of transparency and integrity, and Fixin’ urges her to reconsider her request to keep the NOI under wraps. Powerful people operating in secrecy is a significant part of the reason the county finds itself in this difficult situation.

“I am disappointed that the Sheriff sought to keep this report out of the public eye,” said Jim Lawrence, Board Chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County. “With this secrecy, we don’t know what the supervisors voted on today.  The public deserves transparency.” 

The NOI was developed with taxpayer dollars after the overwhelming passage to Measure A.  We commend the Board for exercising its oversight responsibility — first by hiring an independent investigator to look at concerns raised by employees of the Sheriff’s Office, then acting on the findings by sponsoring Measure A.  But transparency is one of the key advantages of oversight, and release of the NOI is an essential step.

The next step to better oversight is to hire a permanent Inspector General, instead of relying on ad hoc crisis response. If we had an Inspector General the situation may not have come to this. Deputies would have had an independent avenue to escalate their complaints and steps would have been taken earlier to address their concerns. 

Fixin’ has led a broad coalition in pursuit of reform. Six local governments representing 60% of the county’s population endorsed our efforts, alongside more than 35 organizations advocating for stronger oversight. The county has paid out over $13 million in settlements related to misconduct in the past four years, with millions more in pending lawsuits and the costs of a special election.

Fixin’ remains steadfast in our support for the hardworking deputies who risk their lives to protect our community. Oversight is not punitive; it should be of benefit to the deputies and staff as well as the larger community. True public safety requires both accountability and trust among law enforcement employees, and between law enforcement and the people they serve.

Media Contact:

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

State opens jail death review office; County cases under scrutiny

A new state office has been tasked to review local jail deaths throughout California and make recommendations for potential changes in practices or policies involving inmate custody. During a community presentation via Zoom Tuesday night, May 6, Ganter talked about the division, its responsibilities, and what it expects from local jurisdictions statewide. The session comes amid scrutiny over the deaths of six inmates in San Mateo County over the past two years.

Read the full story at RWC Pulse

Fixin’ San Mateo County Calls for Immediate Action Following Apparent Passage of Measure A

Today, the voters of San Mateo County took a historic step toward accountability and transparency in law enforcement. With the apparent passage of Measure A, the Board of Supervisors now has the authority to remove the county sheriff—ensuring that no one is above the law. This victory marks a turning point for our community, and we commend the residents of San Mateo County for demanding meaningful reform.

“This has been a long and difficult road, but the people have spoken. Now, our elected leaders must act without delay,” said Jim Lawrence, Board Chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County. “It is time for the Board of Supervisors to establish permanent, independent civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Office—our community cannot afford further inaction.”

Fixin’ San Mateo County has led a broad coalition in pursuit of reform. Six local governments representing 60% of the county’s population endorsed our efforts, alongside more than 35 organizations advocating for stronger oversight. The county has paid out over $13 million in settlements related to misconduct in the past four years, with millions more in pending lawsuits and the costs of special elections. The status quo is unsustainable.

With Measure A’s passage, the Board of Supervisors has a mandate from the voters. They must immediately use their authority under AB 1185 to support and strengthen the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office (ICAC) and establish an independent Inspector General’s office which should work closely with ICAC. These mechanisms are essential for restoring public trust, ensuring transparency, and preventing future crises.  

At the same time, Fixin’ San Mateo County remains steadfast in our support for the hardworking deputies who risk their lives to protect our community. True public safety requires both accountability and trust between law enforcement and the people they serve.

The time for discussion is over. The voters have made their will clear. We call on the Board of Supervisors to act now—our community’s future depends on it.