BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
San Mateo County Sheriff Ken Binder has appointed a new captain to act as police chief in North Fair Oaks, Portola Valley and Woodside.
Capt. Brandon Hensel started his new position on Sunday, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker. Hensel is filling the vacancy left by Frank Dal Porto, who was promoted to assistant sheriff on Jan. 16.
Hensel has worked in the sheriff’s office for approximately 21 years and has experience working in corrections, patrol, transit policing and court security, according to an unsigned statement issued by Portola Valley officials. Most recently, he oversaw passenger safety on Caltrain during the Super Bowl in February.
Hensel was one of many sheriff’s office employees who testified during the two-week removal hearings of former sheriff Christina Corpus in August. Hensel testified against Corpus’s accusations of time card fraud by Carlos Tapia, the deputy sheriff’s union president, which led to his arrest. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s office declined to file charges against Tapia.
Binder has promoted five captains within the sheriff’s office, Spiker said in an email. The sheriff’s office typically has six captains. With this latest promotion, all of the captains positions in the sheriff’s office are filled, Spiker said.
Binder promoted Capt. Mike Tabak as San Carlos’ police chief, to fill Mark Myers vacancy after he was promoted to assistant sheriff. Binder has also shifted Capt. Eamonn Allen from the Millbrae Bureau to oversee Half Moon Bay. Capt. Andy Hui is now Millbrae’s police chief, according to an unsigned city statement.
Binder also promoted Capt. Benjamin Hand to oversee the Maple Street Jail and Capt. Jesse Myers is in charge of support services, including criminal records, evidence and training. Capt. William Fogarty is in charge of the Maguire Jail.
All of these promotions were effective on March 15, Spiker said.