San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who used tax funds to buy ice cream machines and a $74,000 conference room table, also tried to buy 10 massage chairs, a county supervisor says.
However, the county Procurement Office rejected her request, Supervisor Jackie Speier said at the county board of supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday.
Speier offered no details about the chairs, such as what they cost.
The chairs were mentioned during a discussion about spending $4.2 million in state funds to replace and upgrade two-way radios in the sheriff’s office. The supervisors approved the expenditure for the radio equipment.
But Speier, a former congresswoman, said she wanted “a wholesale look” into procurement procedures by all county departments.
Speier was also unhappy that Corpus, whom she had supported in the 2022 election, didn’t appear at Tuesday’s meeting to answer questions about the radio appropriation. Instead, Corpus sent Undersheriff Dan Perea to the meeting. Perea said he didn’t know much about the massage chairs or the radio expenditure.
Speier asked Perea if he was aware of the request for massage chairs, and he said, “Generally, yes.”
Speier: “And why was that contemplated?”
Perea: “I don’t have, I don’t think that I’m the best person to speak about the entire process and the thinking behind that. It’s part of officer wellness … as I understand that.”
Speier: “So you approved it.”
Perea: “I don’t think, I don’t believe that I was part of that process.” Speier went on to ask if the sheriff herself approved the request. Perea said he would get an answer and return to the supervisors. Speier said it would be helpful to hear from the sheriff herself.
Corpus, who rarely allows herself to be questioned by the press or in public settings, has previously drawn attention for her spending of tax funds.
In March, the Post reported that she purchased two soft-serve ice cream machines for employees in the county jails.
In January, the Post reported that she had purchased a $74,000 conference room table. The 22-foot by 10-foot table includes 12 “cooling fans” in the legs and 10 “lockable access doors.” At the time, County Supervisor David Canepa said it may be the most expensive table in the history of San Mateo County.
Tuesday’s discussion about the massage chairs comes as the supervisors prepare to vote on whether to fire Corpus for several reasons, including allegations of intimidation, retaliation, jailing a critic, racial and homophobic comments, dishonesty and conflicts of interest.
Sheriff’s and police departments around the country have been purchasing massage chairs for years. Cobb County in Georgia and this PD in Colorado. Nothing new
“La Plata County Sheriff’s Office has spent nearly $20,000 on three massage chairs in an effort to help improve the physical and mental health of deputies, part of a larger effort launched in the past year to focus on overall wellness.
“It’s been a rough year for law enforcement,” said Sheriff Sean Smith. “We just want to make sure our people stay healthy so they can serve the citizens the right way.””
How about you just stay in California where the issue lies. Why compare other state Sheriffs Offices when no other office in California has ice cream machines, $74,000 conference tables and massage chairs. They seem confused on what law enforcement duties are.
It’s called gas lighting once again Aenlle
Can’t believe there are people who defend cops no matter what they do. Maybe buying massage chairs isn’t a felony, but what about letting people die in the jail? What about a jail kitchen worker, a pal of Christina’s, who brings drugs into the jail? What about corrections officers who are dumb enough to mix male and female inmates during a transport and then is surprised that a Latina inmate was raped? If you’re a resident who defends the actions of this sheriff, then you deserve exactly what you’re getting.
These chairs were supposedly only to be used by Command Staff and Little Victor.
Did they have a booster seat for Victor?
You could tell how worried Perea was. He’s afraid to say something that would get him in trouble with his boss.
The problem here is who the massage chairs were purchased for. Certainly not a terrible thing to invest in the wellness of our deputies, but come on a massage chair? I’ve seen those things put people to sleep less than five seconds do we need our deputies falling asleep? Did they want a manicurist and a masseuse to come in as well? How about the fact she has spent millions of dollars on an unopened daycare center or given her boyfriend a six figure salary and a job he wasn’t qualified for. This is not normal people and neither is Christina Corpus. Callagy knows how much of a liability Victor is and he’s apparently powerless.
PLEASE elected officials come together protect the citizens of San Mateo county and get these fools out of our sheriffs office.
The Undersheriff’s role, job and responsibilities are to run the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office. Perea should have been able to answer every single question posed by Supervisor Speier. Perea should have been part of, or knowledgeable in, every single question posed by Supervisor Speier. Perea should have had extensive knowledge of this subject and purchase. It was clear from Perea’s stammering and evasive responses that he knew, yet did not wish to share his knowledge by responding to the questions posed. A professional law enforcement executive would not have responded in the embarrassing manner that Perea did. If Perea is not managing the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office, then what does he do every day?
Further, the numbers and figures for the radios do not seem to add up correctly; roughly $10K per radio? Perea did not even appear to know the radio model used nor their cost. Unanswered is the notion offered that every employee needs a radio? Why? Those off-duty do not need radios. Lots of spare batteries yes. A limited number of spare radios. Also omitted from Perea’s abbreviated presentation was how similar radio purchases have occurred in the past. Each Division should have a dedicated budgeted account code for both radio purchases and maintenance. It did not appear that Perea understood what the County Radio Shop does and the service they provide to the Sheriff’s Office relative to keeping the radio stock functioning.
Certainly a single lump sum purchase as opposed to a staggered lesser volume purchase, such as is done with the vehicle fleet purchasing program, has been the past practice in the Sheriff’s Office could be the best path. What of the budget reserve fund maintained by the Sheriff’s Office? Cannot that be used for radio purchases if those purchases are unexpected or even projected? Too many questions and examples of an executive team that is way over their head and does not know how to do their jobs.
The massage chairs? The ice cream machines? The mammoth, overpriced and unnecessary conference table? The silenced weapons too, for that matter? More examples of those who do not know how to do their jobs trying to do only what they want instead of acting like professionals, choosing behaviors and paths based on best practices. There is a pattern of continuous behavior that is obvious. How disheartening and saddening.
Remember this is the same idiot who along with the sheriff ordered the false arrest of the union leader and then hypothetically ran back to SFPD to get his job back, but they said no thanks.
She literally wants to turn the SO building/HQ into something like Meta or Google… what’s next, a safe space room?
This is like an episode of Silicon Valley.
Send backup, we need help!
Table for 2 is all Victor and Chrissy need- crawl under and lock themselves in and hope for a power outage.
Sheriff Corpus: “I’ll take nine massage chairs, please. And do you have one in child size? It’s for my boyfriend.”
This is what happens when leadership lacks accountability and direction. As I’ve mentioned before, just look at the state of Santa Clara County SO under Laurie Smith (when she was the queen of her kingdom) and the issues at Stanford DPS under Laura Wilson. Both organizations have been plagued by mismanagement and dysfunction—an absolute mess.