Kenneth Binder appointed as San Mateo County Sheriff for a 3-year term

REDWOOD CITY — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 4:1 to appoint Kenneth Binder as the County's new Sheriff leading a law enforcement agency of more than 800 sworn and professional staff and serving 750,000 residents.

In a 3-hour special meeting on November 12 to select the new Sheriff from three finalists, Gilroy Interim Police Chief Kenneth Binder, former Assistant Chief of San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) David Lazar, and Solano Community College District Police Chief Brian Wynn Huynh Travis, Binder received four votes among five members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Board President David Canepa was the lone Supervisor to vote for Lazar.

Binder took the oath of office later that afternoon and officially began his term as San Mateo County’s 27th Sheriff.

The Sheriff is an elected position. Binder will serve for three years until January 2029. The position will be opened for election in November 2028.

Binder has been serving in law enforcement for 27 years and the majority of his law enforcement career was at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office where he held positions as Chief of Police for the contract cities of Cupertino, Saratoga, and Los Altos Hills, simultaneously. He served as Undersheriff and retired in 2024.

Since June 2025, Binder served as Interim Chief of Police for the City of Gilroy until he was appointed to lead the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office on November 12.

Binder holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance from San Jose State University.

The Sheriff appointment fills the vacancy left by former Sheriff Christina Corpus who was removed by the Board of Supervisors on October 14 under Measure A.

In March 2024, 84% of voters in San Mateo County passed Measure A to temporarily grant the Board of Supervisors the authority to remove elected Corpus from office for cause.

But the controversy of Corpus in allegations of corruption, abuse of power, misconduct and retaliation within the Sheriff's Office had lasted for a year.

"It is a closure of the corruption scandal," Supervisor Noelia Corzo said when she voted for Binder. "Chief Binder's deep experience in law enforcement is what San Mateo County needs."

"We are starting a new chapter today," Corzo added.

Supervisor Jackie Speier voted for Binder because of the similarity between San Mateo County and Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office where Binder served as Undersheriff.

Speier commended all three finalists were talented and professional candidates. "Each of our finalists are impressive. I'am happy anyone of three finalists to be the next Sheriff," said Speier.

Board President David Canepa said Lazar's leadership at the San Francisco Police Department had impressed him. Lazar, who gained trust from communities in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley, Chinatown, and Mission neighborhoods, were very crucial for public safety. Lazar had also shown in San Francisco that he had the ability to work with elected officials, Canepa said.

San Mateo County Sheriff's Office which is the largest law-enforcement agency in the County also provides patrol services to unincorporated communities and contract cities including San Carlos, Millbrae, Half Moon Bay, Portola Valley, Woodside, Caltrain and SamTrans.

In addition to police and patrol services, the Sheriff’s Office operates and manages the County’s correctional facilities.