San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office seeks ombudsperson for oversight

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to hire an ombudsperson to improve transparency and communication within its correctional facilities. The role, suggested by Sheriff Ken Binder following his appointment last November, is designed to act as a neutral resource to resolve complaints from incarcerated individuals, their families, and the community.

The position aims to enhance the responsiveness of the complaint process and identify opportunities for operational improvement. The county received 50 applications during the recruitment window from July 28 to August 11 and is currently reviewing candidates. The role is funded through the office’s annual budget, which was approved by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

This move toward increased oversight follows a period of instability for the department. Sheriff Binder assumed leadership after former Sheriff Christina Corpus was ousted amid allegations of misconduct and corruption.