San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is undergoing a removal hearing characterized by allegations that depict her leadership style as vindictive and problematic. Defense arguments suggest these claims stem from political retaliation against her reform efforts aimed at addressing longstanding issues in the sheriff's department. Tensions escalated after Corpus curtailed excessive overtime pay, impacting the department's budget. Investigations have concluded that the Corpus administration is marked by various abuses of authority. The hearings explore her personal and professional boundaries, including her purported relationship with a former chief of staff.
The removal hearing follows complaints last year from two sheriff's unions that triggered a 400-page investigation by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell. That report concluded "lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest and abuses of authority are the hallmarks of the Corpus administration."
Defense attorney Christopher Ulrich argued that tensions with staff escalated after Corpus ended double overtime pay beyond 9 hours, a practice that had inflated the sheriff's office budget to nearly $19 million.
County attorney Jan Little pressed Corpus about her relationship with Victor Aenlle, her former chief of staff. Corpus is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with him and pushing for raises despite questions over his qualifications.
Corpus became a target of entrenched critics after her rise as a reformer and as the first Latina sheriff in county history.
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