Barely three weeks ago, Ken Binder was one of a dozen applicants vying to lead San Mateo County’s top law enforcement agency. After a year-long, bruising showdown between the Board of Supervisors and former Sheriff Christina Corpus — who was removed last month — he now steps into a department scarred by controversy, hoping to steer it toward calmer ground.
His new suite on the top floor of the Sheriff’s Office in Redwood City offers sweeping views of the Bay. For an agency that has filled local papers with headlines for more than a year, the quiet was striking when this news organization met him one week into the job.
“On my first day, I had a management meeting with all my captains that lasted about four hours. I was briefed on a lot of things we can do to make positive changes around the office. The first thing was listening to them and making sure they’re being heard,” Binder said.
He knows he must move quickly to avoid the controversies that marked previous occupants of the chair he now sits in.
More than a year ago, two sheriffs’ unions accused Corpus and her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle, of fostering a toxic workplace. Corpus and Aenlle denied wrongdoing, saying the allegations stemmed from her attempts to reform an “old boys’ network.” Aenlle was recently relieved of his volunteer post by Binder in the sheriff’s concealed carry unit.
As those disputes continue to wind through appeals and litigation, attention has now shifted to Binder.
Formerly the Gilroy police chief and a longtime Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office executive, Binder said his 27 years in law enforcement will guide him as he works to restore morale and rebuild public trust.
“It’s about being honest, doing the right thing when no one’s looking, and treating others the way you want to be treated,” he told this news organization.
Jail reforms will be among his top priorities.
Last year, the county’s jail facilities saw at least five deaths, along with complaints of broken elevators, inmate fights, and undelivered mail. Binder has plans to address these issues.
“One concern is the jail. I plan to bring in an independent ombudsman to field complaints and work with management and complainants to resolve issues,” Binder said.
Binder cited his time as Santa Clara County undersheriff, where he helped stabilize the department during turbulent years and a corruption scandal involving former Sheriff Laurie Smith and concealed-carry permits. This experience gave him the confidence to step into the spotlight in San Mateo County.
“Over the past year, I’ve watched what’s been happening here, both in the media and through people I know in the organization,” he said. “My heart goes out to the department and to the county. There was a clear need, and I felt my skill set — especially given what I dealt with in Santa Clara County — aligned well with that need.”
The new sheriff said he is prepared for scrutiny, but his goal is to ensure the department makes headlines for the right reasons — a task far from simple.
Unlike most sheriffs, who are elected, Binder was handpicked by the Board of Supervisors.
Jason McDaniel, a local politics expert and professor at San Francisco State University, said the role of sheriff is important, though even when elected, it is typically non-competitive and low-information. Still, he emphasized, building connections with the community remains key.
“If I were advising in that kind of political environment, I would emphasize making sure the ties to the community are strong,” McDaniel said. “Otherwise, it’s about making sure things don’t mess up.”
Binder acknowledged that, having been appointed rather than elected, he needs to “work extra hard now to really build those connections and trust with the community.”
That will be challenging in areas where Corpus still has strong support. Her backers continue to denounce the supervisors’ removal as unconstitutional at board meetings. Binder said he hopes to win them over as well.
“I will reach out to anyone who wants to see public safety done the right way,” he said.
Following a divisive year for the county, he also vowed to maintain neutrality.
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, who supported Sheriff Corpus in the previous administration. It doesn’t matter to me, because everyone here is an employee,” Binder said. “Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally. Campaign support or leadership backing will not factor into how anyone is allowed to do their job.”
While he vowed to enact change in the office, he pledged to continue and enhance successful programs, including efforts to improve diversity and increase the number of women in the sheriff’s office, both professional staff and sworn personnel.
“We’ve got a 29% female workforce and aim to do all we can so anyone wanting to work in public safety has the opportunity,” he said.
Jim Lawrence, board chair of the citizen-led watchdog group Fixin’ San Mateo County, which has been closely monitoring the sheriff’s removal over the past year, expressed hope that Binder would lead the department toward greater stability and public trust.
“As he is probably well aware, moving forward includes ensuring financial accountability, recruiting, and making sure the staff serving in our jails are fully trained,” he said.