Embattled San Mateo Sheriff Brings Back Former Aide, Alleged Romantic Partner

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is once again under fire, this time for rehiring her former chief of staff — and alleged boyfriend — last week to a reserve deputy position in the department.

Victor Aenlle, who was dismissed last year by county supervisors, was rehired to process applications for concealed carry weapons permits, according to an email Corpus sent to law enforcement officials requesting he be added to “the active list [of reserve deputies]” and begin “receiving all correspondence related to the reserve unit.”

A county spokesperson confirmed to KQED that Aenlle had been rehired.

The move comes amid months of turmoil surrounding the sheriff’s office and Corpus, who has clung to her position despite mounting calls for her to resign.

Last year, county officials commissioned an “independent fact-finding investigation” into a spate of complaints against Corpus and Aenlle, a real estate agent that she tapped to serve as her executive director.

The investigation, conducted by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, found that the pair had created a culture of “retaliation and intimidation,” failed to follow legal procedures and were involved in an inappropriate romantic relationship.

“Lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest, and abuses of authority are the hallmarks of the Corpus administration,” Cordell wrote in the scathing, 408-page audit. “Sheriff Corpus should step down and Victor Aenlle’s employment with the Sheriff’s Office should be terminated immediately.”

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors eliminated Aenlle’s position after the report’s publication in November and barred him from county facilities reserved for sworn officers.

In March, San Mateo County voters overwhelmingly passed a charter amendment granting supervisors the authority to remove Corpus from office with a four-fifths vote. The board will likely begin moving forward with those proceedings next month. Corpus has refused to resign.

Corpus said the hire was necessary to handle the sharp increase in applications for concealed carry licenses. She noted that it was a volunteer position.

“Mr. Aenlle will be assisting with actively addressing that backlog,” she said in a statement to KQED, adding that it was within her authority to assign reserve deputies where needed. “Mr. Aenlle has been an active reserve deputy with the Sheriff’s Office for over 17 years. There has been no lapse in his reserve deputy status.”

The San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which has pushed for Corpus’ removal, blasted the decision to rehire Aenlle.

“I was pretty shocked and I still have not quite been able to fully wrap my head around it just because of how ridiculous it is,” said Detective Eliot Storch, the union’s secretary, who emphasized that Aenlle’s abusive behavior within the department was well documented. “It is a giant middle finger to everyone. It’s really just evidence that she only cares about Victor and herself, nobody else.”

Despite being assigned a voluntary, unpaid role with limited scope on paper, Aenlle may try to inappropriately gain influence over other parts of the agency, much like he did in his previous position, Storch added.

“We have no reason to believe that’s not going to happen again,” he said.

Unrelated to Aenlle’s recent reinstatement, Corpus’ integrity was again questioned by the Board of Supervisors this week when it was revealed that her department had attempted to purchase 10 massage chairs with county funds.

The request, which drew a sharp rebuke from Supervisor Jackie Speier, was ultimately rejected.