Jackie Speier presses San Mateo sheriff’s office on spending, blocked massage chair buy - The Mercury News

[Ryan Macasero]

San Mateo County Supervisor Jackie Speier speaks to a constituent at the San Mateo County Center in Redwood City, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)



What began as a routine funding request for new police radios drew scrutiny Tuesday, as Supervisor Jackie Speier raised concerns about responsible spending within the scandal-plagued San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office during a board of supervisors meeting.

The department had requested $4.2 million to fund the purchase of 425 police radios at $10,000 apiece — equipment that Undersheriff Dan Perea said is urgently needed to replace obsolete models. While Speier did not dispute the need for the radios, and the board ultimately approved the item, she criticized Sheriff Christina Corpus for not appearing at the meeting to explain the request.

“We expect department heads to appear when they have issues before the board of supervisors,” said Speier, a former U.S. congressional representative. “If she has an item, even on consent, it can be taken off. The fact she is unavailable is disappointing.”

Perea only said that Corpus was attending to other sheriff’s office business.

Consent agenda items are typically approved in bulk without discussion, unless a supervisor chooses to pull one for individual review, because they are considered routine by nature. Items placed on the regular agenda, by contrast, are expected to be publicly discussed and defended by department heads.

The department has been under increased scrutiny since the release of a 400-page report in November 2024 detailing allegations of workplace bullying, corruption and misconduct. The independent investigation, led by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, was commissioned in response to concerns raised by members of the department’s unions.

Typically, procurement decisions fall within the purview of department heads. However, this purchase required board approval because it involved transferring funds from a voter-approved sales tax.

“I don’t dispute the fact you have the need for updated equipment,” Speier said. Pointing to the fact that the purchase has already been made, Speier asked, “Why did it come to us after the fact?”

County Attorney John Nibbelin interjected, explaining that county departments can make purchases on their own, but board approval is needed to use sales-tax funds.

Speier also questioned a separate attempted purchase of 10 massage chairs that she said had been approved by Corpus, though the county’s procurement department ultimately blocked the purchase of at least eight of them.

“Office wellness is part of the thought,” Perea said when asked about the chairs. “However, I was not involved in that process.”

Speier said she is working on a resolution to strengthen oversight of procurement practices across county departments. She also asked that the sheriff appear at a future meeting to explain recent purchases and expenditures.

Sheriff’s office spokesperson Gretchen Spiker echoed Perea’s explanation, confirming that the department was able to procure two massage chairs out of the 10.

“The Sheriff’s Office has been investing in initiatives to support the well-being of our employees, who work long hours protecting and serving our community,” Spiker said in an email to this news organization. “To enhance employee wellness, the Sheriff’s Office recently purchased two massage chairs using funds earmarked for that purpose. Each chair cost approximately $6,670. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office does not intend to purchase additional chairs.”

Corpus did not say if she would attend a future board meeting if called to explain other expenses.

In a joint statement, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants criticized the department’s spending decisions and questioned the recent rehiring of Victor Aenlle, a former top aide accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Corpus.

“Rehiring Victor Aenlle, the person who sparked the original complaints of nepotism and harassment, along with the intent to spend taxpayer dollars on massage chairs, once again demonstrates her disrespect for both the community and the office she holds,” the unions said. “We look forward to the day when new leadership can begin to restore the trust and transparency that we expect from our public servants.”

While the board of supervisors has yet to establish procedures for a removal hearing, 84% of San Mateo County voters last month approved a measure granting them the temporary authority to remove the elected sheriff.

Corpus has so far refused to resign, calling the Cordell investigation biased, politically motivated and flawed.

Originally Published: April 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM PDT

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