BY AMELIA BISCARDI
Daily Post Staff Writer
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s captain who quit rather than arrest the head of the deputy’s union has now filed a claim against the county alleging retaliation among other grievances.
Supervisor Ray Mueller held a press conference Thursday and said that Capt. Brian Philip, who resigned last week rather than arresting sheriff’s deputy union president Carlos Tapia, on Tuesday submitted a legal claim, a precursor to filing a civil suit. Philip describes in the claim how he was treated by higher-ups in the sheriff’s office. He says that he was told by Undersheriff Dan Perea not to tell human resources or the district attorney about the arrest. And he details some of the retaliation he says he faced.
Philip, who joined the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office from the Palo Alto Police Department in August 2023, claims that he was told by former chief of staff Victor Aenlle to “stop communicating” with Sheriff Christina Corpus. Philip says he believed that Aenlle was threatened by his “then friendly” relationship with Corpus.
The new allegations by Phillip follow the release of a scathing report
Returning to the episode involving Tapia on Nov. 12, Philip said he resigned because Undersheriff Perea did not give him a “factual basis to warrant the arrest.”
“I refused his order, as I believed the arrest was improper and illegal,” Philip said. “Perea then ordered me to not report this arrest order to human resources or the district attorney’s office.”
Philip concludes he was left with no other option but to resign.
The document given to jailers said Tapia was arrested on two charges alleging time card fraud. Tapia allegedly was working on union matters during work hours.
Philip said in his claim he believed that Tapia was engaged in a protected union activity, and therefore his arrest was unlawful.
Tapia is free on $10,000 bond. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe hasn’t said whether he will file charges against Tapia.
Mueller, the county supervisor, said at Thursday’s news conference that he is concerned about the lawsuits that will hit the sheriff’s office and county.
“Under her leadership and the relationship she has with Mr. Aenlle undoubtedly is going to cost the taxpayers millions of dollars in lawsuits,” Mueller said.
Corpus refused to be interviewed by Cordell, but after the report came out, she claimed that the texts containing homophobic slurs seemed to be fake and that she never sent them.
Mueller said the county used Cellebrite, a company with software that can determine if messages are falsified or not. Mueller said the county was able to obtain the device of one of the individuals interviewed by Cordell.
The messages show that Corpus used the term, “fuzz bumper” four times when referring to a woman. “Fuzz bumper” is a vulgar term used to describe lesbians.
As the Daily Post reported Thursday, the sheriff office’s five remaining captains have all called for Corpus’ resignation and the firing of Aenlle. Mueller had two captains, Mark Myers and Eamonn Allen, standing beside him during the conference Thursday.
“I’m here on my own time and off duty, speaking for the sheriff’s captains; the letter that our group has recently delivered the sheriff speaks for itself,” Myers said. “We stand here today in appreciation of board supervisor Mueller and the board of supervisors who have given a voice to the voiceless within the organization and to show support for the men and women of the sheriff’s office who continue to show up to work.”
The captains sent a letter to Corpus on Monday “expressing a lack of confidence in your leadership.” The county is taking the position that Aenlle is no longer an employee of the county, according to Mueller. The board of supervisors eliminated his position as executive director and chief of staff. Then Corpus said she was promoting him to assistant sheriff, suggesting that they cannot fire somebody in that position.
Mueller said the county doesn’t believe Aenlle, who was a reserve deputy before Corpus hired him two years ago, meets qualifications for assistant sheriff, and therefore he is no longer employed by the county.
Moreover, County Executive Mike Callegy has said that Aenlle, if he visits the sheriff’s office, is only allowed in the areas where the public is welcome, and that he can’t go to what was his office.
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