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Kenneth Binder on Wednesday was selected to lead the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors made the decision within less than two weeks after a series of interviews with candidates vying for the position. At a Monday meeting, three finalists were interviewed by the public in a multi-hour forum.
Binder, who is currently the Interim Police Chief in Gilroy, said he first wants to try to heal the Sheriff’s Office. Binder became the interim police chief in Gilroy this June after spending more than two decades in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked his way up to the position of undersheriff.
He also briefly served as acting sheriff in 2022 after former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith retired early, just before she was found guilty of corruption and willful misconduct following accusations by a civil grand jury. Binder, who is currently the Interim Police Chief in Gilroy, said he first wants to try to heal the Sheriff’s Office.
“Today is a historic day,” said Supervisor Noelia Corzo. “It’s a day that our community has been waiting for since the corruption, retaliation, and abuses of power in the Sheriff’s Office first came to light.”
After a measure passed that gave the board the power to remove the sheriff, supervisors continued their investigations into former Sheriff Christina Corpus, whose administration was rocked by scandal and allegations of abuse and retaliation.
She eventually resigned on the day the board was to fire her. Binder will serve the remainder of Corpus’ term, which expires at the end of 2028.
Three finalists were chosen following interviews with the board — former San Francisco Assistant Police Chief David Lazar, Solano Community College District Police Chief Brian Wynn Huynh Travis, and Binder.
After three hours of public comment and final interviews with the candidates at Wednesday’s meeting, every supervisor except for board president David Canepa voted in favor of Binder.
“All the candidates are all very well qualified,” said Supervisor Lisa Gauthier. “But behind the scenes one stands out more than the others, and that will be Ken.”
The board leaned toward Binder due to his past experiences in jails and his role in helping rebuild a sheriff’s office in turmoil, as well as his commitment to noncompliance with federal immigration authorities.
Additionally, his calm demeanor and endorsements from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office unions were appealing factors.
The San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association had previously decided not to endorse a candidate. But the San Mateo County Central Labor Council, a coalition of unions that includes the deputies’ union, announced at the meeting its endorsement of Binder.
“Our professional staff sergeants, lieutenants and captains hope to work for Ken Binder,” said the labor council’s executive officer Julie Lind during public comment. “He knows what it takes to rebuild an organization while also supporting those who keep it running.”
While the other supervisors and dozens of members of the public voiced their support for Binder, Canepa favored Lazar because of his experience managing budgets and the positive testimonies to Lazar’s work from those who know him.
Several supervisors were impressed with Lazar’s career at SFPD and his outspoken support from members of the public. But the majority of the board could not look past his lack of experience in managing jails and the differences between policing San Francisco and San Mateo County.
“The jail is not a holding cell,” said Supervisor Ray Mueller. “The challenges are far, far greater with more demand and responsibility … Ken Binder has the proven experience in a larger jail system.”
At the end of the vote, everyone in the board chambers stood up and clapped for Binder.
“I am excited to lead and move the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office forward,” Binder said to the board. “I’m ready to begin the work ahead.”
The appointment of a new sheriff comes exactly one year after an independent investigation was released containing allegations that Corpus, the former sheriff, had an inappropriate relationship with her chief of staff and fostered a culture of intimidation and retaliation in the Sheriff’s Office.
The report sparked a long list of calls for Corpus’ resignation and multiple votes of “no confidence” from several cities and the Board of Supervisors itself. Corpus remained defiant, leading San Mateo County voters to give the board the power to remove her rather than hold a recall election.
On Oct. 14, the board made a final decision to remove Corpus. With 30 days to fill the vacancy, the board decided to go with a long-term appointment of the next sheriff instead of an election.
Redwood City Pulse Staff contributed to this story.
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