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Following a heated Sunday night press conference in which San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus called for an independent investigation into County Executive Mike Callagy’s conduct, the Board of Supervisors released a statement late Monday in support of Callagy. Within two and half hours, Corpus shot back with a response to the statement, doubling down on her concerns.
In a letter addressed to board President Warren Slocum sent late Monday morning, Corpus accused Callagy of “(conspiring) against an elected sheriff, discrimination, sexual harassment, abuse of power and persistent interference with the operations of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.”
Specifically, Corpus claimed that Callagy had been “overriding” decisions that she had made. She accused him of attempting to block the termination of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan, whom she fired on Friday, Sept. 20.
She also accused him of interfering in her negotiations with the Sheriff’s unions. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association and Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants have filed unfair labor charges against the Sheriff’s Office with the California Public Employment Relations Board, but Corpus alleges that these sour labor relations are due to Callagy’s involvement.
“The burden of the current situation with the unions is directly attributed to Mr. Callagy’s inappropriate backdoor interference,” she wrote in her complaint.
In a Tuesday press release, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants said that Callagy is being “inexplicably” blamed for the unions’ current labor unrest. Instead they say the labor unrest can be attributed to the actions of Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle. “Rather than scapegoat, the moment calls for reflection and consideration of the bona fide concerns of the Sheriff’s employees.”
Corpus also said that Callagy has treated her with more scrutiny than past sheriffs and alleged that this difference is because she is a woman. She accused him of asking her “inappropriate” questions about whom she had dated within the county and when.
She added that she believes Callagy has supported and empowered the “good ol’ boys” in the Sheriff’s Office and has swept claims of sexual retaliation and harassment under the rug under past sheriffs’ administrations.
In a joint statement made on behalf of the board, Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller responded to the “various accusations” made by Corpus in the “multi-page complaint” that she sent to the supervisors late this morning. They said that Callagy has been an “ethical public servant in San Mateo County for over 41 years,” and that unless he is proven to be otherwise, the board “will remain united in its full faith and trust in his leadership.”
According to the statement, Callagy informed the board that Corpus’ claims against him were “false” and “defamatory.”
Callagy said that he welcomes an independent investigation into the allegations made against him and requests that the full results be shared with the public if such an investigation takes place.
The board is reviewing the complaint letter sent by Corpus this morning, and “will take the necessary time” to determine how they will respond and whether or not they will initiate an investigation into Callagy.
Corpus quickly issued a press release saying she was “deeply disappointed” by the Board of Supervisors’ Monday response, but said that she was not surprised.
“Their response doesn’t address the serious concerns I raised related to Mr. Callagy’s inappropriate conduct. It sends a clear message: when you raise a complaint in San Mateo County as a woman, you will be dismissed,” Corpus said. “I think it’s best for Supervisor Mueller to recuse himself from this issue as he has already demonstrated his biased fandom for Mr. Callagy. The dirty politics must stop once and for all.”
Callagy has served as San Mateo County executive since November 2018. He originally joined the County in 2013 as a deputy county manager following a 29-year career with the San Mateo Police Department, where he retired as a deputy chief.
Corpus’s claims against Callagy follow a separate, board-initiated independent investigation into claims of retaliation, union busting and a toxic work environment at the Sheriff’s Office.
The board commissioned former Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell to lead the investigation into the Sheriff’s Office.
The supervisors said they remain committed to the independent investigation into the “dozens of allegations made regarding the Sheriff’s Office.”
“The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is committed to upholding due process and ensuring public trust in the County and Sheriff’s Office,” wrote Mueller and Corzo in the joint statement.
In their Tuesday statement, the DSA and OSS said that though Monaghan is not represented by either union, they “strongly oppose retaliating against any employee on account of that employee’s testimony or assistance in an investigation.” The unions went on to say that they fully support a “thorough investigation” of all allegations of retaliation against the sheriff,” as well as “full transparency” of the findings of the investigation.
