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Citizen seeks top sheriff’s recall after brothel sting
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Related Topics: SAN MATEO, Calif.
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Michael Stogner is leading the recall of Sheriff Greg Munks.
SAN MATEO, Calif. (Map, News) - Two months after the county’s elected sheriff was caught up in a brothel raid in Las Vegas, a self-proclaimed government watchdog is moving ahead with plans to recall the county’s top officer.
Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos were detained, questioned and released March 21 by Las Vegas police in Operation Dollhouse, a raid on a handful of brothels near the Las Vegas Strip, according to Las Vegas police. Munks had participated in a law enforcement relay run and was looking for a massage to treat sore muscles, according to Bolanos. The two men were not arrested or charged as a result of the raid.
After the arrest, calls for resignation surfaced. Munks publicly apologized to his family, Sheriff’s Office employees and San Mateo County constituents for his “lack of judgment and the undue attention and embarrassment the incident caused.”
However, San Carlos resident Michael Stogner was not satisfied with the lack of action by county supervisors.
“Every moment that they stay leading this organization, it undermines the authority and reputation of the agency,” Stogner said.
Filing the initial petition, which Stogner plans to do this week, would set in motion the long process of gathering about 35,000 signatures from registered voters to put a recall on the ballot, county elections manager David Tom said.
If Munks is unseated, voters would have the opportunity to choose a new sheriff, according to county elections officials. Munks said Monday that he has spent 30 years in law enforcement protecting people’s rights, and would not “get negative” about Stogner’s recall effort. Instead, he plans to continue to focus on one of his department’s greatest challenges: jail overcrowding.
In the event enough signatures are garnered, the Board of Supervisors would have to call an election, said Brenda Carlson, chief deputy county counsel. Voters would not only have a chance to remove Munks but also choose a new sheriff from a slate of candidates that would be given a chance to put their names forward before the election, Carlson said.
Supervisors, who have kept their distance from the scandal, saying that only voters have the ability to unseat the elected sheriff, didn’t return calls for comment Monday on whether they support the recall.
What do you think will happen to Sheriff Munks?
Share your comments below.
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:00 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 18, 2007 re: "Examination planned into Las Vegas trip expenses"
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Albert Franklin said:
I am appalled that the San Mateo County grand jury when investigating its county hospital were not sickened with it learned that medical doctors and nurses at Chope tried to murder a black nurse with electified paddles dimpley because they did not like her brand of Christianlity. I'm gripped with grief, knowing that the grand jury did nothing on finding out not one of them was even arrested let alone tried for attempting to murder a black former employee of the county, and I'm shocked beyond belief that none of this was ever brought to light by the body the public trusts to tell us the truth!
237 agree | 216 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Stogner is a divorced , absentee father...What else can he do with his time??
190 agree | 220 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
With any luck at all, this misfit and his sidekick will be sent packing as soon as possible. If their powers of observation are so lacking, they can't tell the difference between a seedy cat house and a legitimate massage parlor, they definitely should not be in law enforcement.
163 agree | 160 disagree
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Ed in Menlo Park said:
Doesn't this guy have anything better to worry about? The Sheriff has complied with everything asked of him regarding this situation, and he has not been accused of, nor charged with a crime! If he had broken a law, then there would be justification for his removal from office. Since there is none, Sheriff Munks should be treated as any other citizen-innocent. Allow him to get on with his job and his life. Ultimately, the ending is easy; no crime, no punishment. This "watchdog" should lighten up and stop trying to add fuel to a fire that has already been put out.
222 agree | 219 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It wouldn't seem so scandalous if it weren't for the fact that only weeks before these 2 top cops in the County decided to completely do away with their dept's sex crimes unit. It now all falls under "property crimes." Crimes against children, molestation, solicitation over the internet, rapes, etc. will all now be divided up among detectives who do not have the specialized training required to properly investigate and follow through in these types of cases. And what about the sex registrants? Who's monitoring them now that the SHOP (sexual habitual offender program) unit is defunct? NOBODY!!! That's where Munks and Bolanos's priorities are, not with the people and children of SM County, but in there own pants.
275 agree | 167 disagree
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sad said:
maltbie was caught picking up a hooker, who is now a Sheriff's Captian. Trish Sanchez, But I would bet she wouldn't comment about it, asn she is a Captain now....
246 agree | 157 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If you sneeze in San Mateo County, the authorities want to send you to state prison now these guys get cought like this and act like it's no big thing. If Casper the Friendly Ghost came into a Redwood City courtroom, the da would try to make him seem like Jack the Ripper and deman a long term in San quentin to"protect the public"
217 agree | 235 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I've practiced criminal law 27 years, since the late 80's in San mateo County. I know from practical experience that the hard core, "law and order", mentality displated by Judges, the county DA and the various law enforcement agencies is equal to any in california, Orange County and San Diego County included. Because of that, I have'nt known if I should laugh or cry about the behavior of Munks and Bolanos in this matter. I've defended probation violators who Sheriff's deputies charged with jaywalking or littering(so help me). The ADA's in these cases carped for and got 120 day sentences in both cases! Now, the top two county law enforcement officials get caught up in a prositution sting in Vegas, on a trip imroperly subsidized by San Mateo County taxpayers and the DA's office and several politicans spring to their defense...."we respect them, they have not lost credibility...we can still work with them...". What a bad joke this is on the citizens of San Mateo County.
225 agree | 195 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"Isn't that legal in Nevada anyway? Give the guy a break." Actually, no, not in that county. And the prostitutes were apparently underaged, unpapered and working against their will. And so underdressed that they were led out in blankets. Shame on the Sheriff.
204 agree | 220 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sheriff Munks told a bold faced lie. Please...we were driving around at 9:30 at night in a limo looking for a "massage". Ridiculous!!! Any lay person, let alone two experienced law enforcement professionals would have stopped the limo driver when he drove three miles off the strip, to a seedy area and to an unmarked residential home with trailers in the back. The last time I was in Las Vegas the hotel I was staying at had a legitimate spa. How stupid do these two men think the people of San Mateo County are? They should be ashamed of themselves, tell the truth and resign.
237 agree | 164 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Has someone taken the integrity out of San Mateo County Government? Oh wait I don't think it had any to begin with. Oh, and the Board of Supervisors, what a joke!! Their heads are so in the clouds that they have lost the ability to effectively maintain any departmental oversight, not that they should be holding the department heads' hands, but maybe facilitate the placement of competent leaders with above moral and ethical standing. What's going to be interesting in the next election is "who" supports "who." I feel some politicians are going to keep their distance from a few of the current elected officials. Here sups put this on the docket....How about a request for a name change, "Board of UnSupervisors."
240 agree | 244 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm sure County Manager Maltbie isn't taking any calls because he's afraid it will bring up his own past. Remember, he was caught in a sting operation for soliciting a prostitute. Only it was an undercover detective. Tsk, tsk.
175 agree | 163 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Too bad Munks wasn't a police chief -- then he could be fired now, and the public would not have to wait 3 1/2 years. Bolones should take his retirement and fade into the sunset.
270 agree | 243 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
They aren't any other "John" caught in a brothel. If it was any other sworn member of the Sheriff's Office, they would probably be on admin leave pending an investigation. Why is it different for the two top cops in San Mateo County?
251 agree | 218 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why should these two be treated any different than any other John caught inside a brothel? I'm sure they both knew they were not there to get a "massage" on a Saturday night at a location that did not look like a legitimate business from the outside. I'm almost positive that in the course of their law enforcement career they had no mercy on all the "Johns" they came in contact with, so why should the citizens of San Mateo County have mercy on them? And If they think we are so stupid to believe their lame story--- think again Ben.
248 agree | 168 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Shame on the sheriff and his undersheriff and what a fine example of good judgement they have given to those they supervise. How can they lead after putting themselves in such a poor light. Their families, the Sheriff's Office and the deputies who work for Monks will not benefit from their poor choice of relaxation.
267 agree | 183 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Considering the Sheriff and Undersheriff were staying at a first rate hotel which offered massage services, why was it necessary to drive to a seedy part of the county (two miles out of the city limits)? Indeed, they have lost all integrity as lawmen and should resign their positions. A leader leads from the front by good example, how could they expect to judge their officers under similar circumstances? Time to step aside. It should not be business as usual. Signed; A retired CA Peace Officer
251 agree | 174 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
No law was broken, what's the big deal?
232 agree | 199 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
He is a great sheriff and stellar person with the support of the county and a history of 20 years of excellence. It was a bad judgment call late on a Saturday night off duty in Las Vegas, but I'm sure not one of us can relate to that. He had sore muscles from a long run and wanted a massage, ended up in the wrong spot. Let move on and focus on important stuff here such as the continued leadership of SM county. I for one accept his apology and continue to support the sheriff elect. I also am disappointed by the media's and Examiner's focus on tabloid-like events that are personally destructive and undermine public support for elected city government leaders.
260 agree | 209 disagree
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Nevada Dan said:
Shouldn't we expect better from our officials?
256 agree | 154 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Isn't that legal in Nevada anyway? Give the guy a break.
225 agree | 154 disagree
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