REDWOOD CITY — An independent investigation into personnel allegations the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has received about the sheriff’s office took a shocking turn Friday when an elected official linked an assistant sheriff’s termination to his cooperation with the probe.
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In a statement on behalf of the board, Supervisor Ray Mueller said it came to his attention late in the afternoon that Sheriff Christina Corpus had fired Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan. The termination, he noted, happened after Monaghan was interviewed by LaDoris Cordell, a former judge who was appointed to lead the investigation.
“The timing of the sheriff’s action and information provided by Assistant Sheriff Monaghan suggest possible retaliation against Assistant Sheriff Monaghan for participating in Judge Cordell’s independent investigation,” the statement read in part.
Corpus dismissed Mueller’s statement as “completely out of line” and “pure speculation.”
“He should have the facts before weighing in on a subject as important as this,” Corpus said in a statement of her own. “It appears he is just trying to get publicity, and that behavior is inappropriate, unprofessional and needs to stop.”
“When the people of San Mateo County elected me as sheriff, they entrusted me to make decisions about who I include on my executive staff,” Corpus said. “The coach picks the team. Period.”
According to Mueller’s statement, Cordell has been asked to investigate whether Monaghan suffered retaliation.
“The San Mateo County Attorney’s Office is reviewing and the Board of Supervisors is prepared to take all legal actions necessary to preserve the integrity of the independent investigation and to protect other witnesses interviewed by Judge Cordell,” Mueller said. “The investigation will continue and will not be obstructed.”
Last week, the board announced it had authorized an independent probe into “multiple personnel allegations” related to the sheriff’s office. County officials have declined to share details about the investigation.
The unions that represent local sheriff’s deputies and sergeants, meanwhile, have publicly accused leadership at the sheriff’s office of creating a toxic work environment and refusing to negotiate over increased staffing and overtime requirements.
Union leaders say Corpus’ chief of staff, Victor Aenlle, is largely to blame. They claim Aenlle has repeatedly berated and demeaned union members and overstepped his civilian role by making decisions about the duties of sworn personnel.
Last week, 306 union members approved a no-confidence vote against the chief of staff, while 12 opposed it. The sheriff’s office has about 800 law enforcement personnel.
Corpus, in a statement last week, said the vote was “nothing more than a political stunt” by special interests to undermine her leadership and bully her into making personnel changes.
“It has no legal bearing and changes nothing,” Corpus said. “I appointed my chief of staff and he will remain in that position.”