Episode Details

Sheriff Ken Binder, appointed on November 12, 2025 as the 27th Sheriff of San Mateo County, joins The Game to talk about rebuilding leadership and culture inside the Sheriff’s Office after a turbulent year.

Binder discusses morale and resilience among staff, the staffing picture today, recruitment standards, and the importance of professionalism and consistency across the department. He also explains how internal affairs cases are handled — including what can (and can’t) be done when timelines under California’s Peace Officer Bill of Rights have expired.

The conversation expands into San Mateo County’s non-cooperation policy with ICE, how trust impacts public safety, and the Sheriff’s constitutional role in maintaining peace during demonstrations. The episode also highlights the county’s new focus on combating human trafficking, including coordination with the District Attorney’s office.

In the bullpen segment, Mark and Bob discuss the California governor’s race, Democratic field dynamics, and local campaign developments as mail-in ballots near.

Guest: Sheriff Ken Binder

Chapters

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Game
• (00:27) - Introducing Sheriff Ken Binder (27th Sheriff of San Mateo County)
• (01:01) - First three months: morale inside the department
• (03:13) - Trauma, resilience, and employee wellness
• (04:23) - Building a new executive leadership team
• (06:18) - Staffing levels: Are deputies fully staffed?
• (07:34) - What does “culture” really mean in law enforcement?
• (10:12) - Internal affairs backlog and accountability
• (11:29) - Peace Officer Bill of Rights & statute of limitations challenges
• (12:31) - Status of Carlos Tapia matter
• (13:06) - ICE policy: Non-cooperation and public trust
• (19:22) - Maintaining order during protests & constitutional duties
• (20:48) - Sheriff’s reaction to events in Minnesota
• (21:09) - Recruiting the next generation of deputies
• (22:23) - New human trafficking initiative in San Mateo County
• (24:56) - Working with the Deputy Sheriffs Association
• (26:58) - Getting to know San Mateo County & marathon leadership
• (28:56) - Is law enforcement still attracting applicants?
• (32:15) - Why law enforcement is still a meaningful profession
• (34:10) - Body cameras and transparency
• (35:38) - Bullpen: California governor’s race
• (42:11) - Assessor race and local campaign dynamics
• (43:24) - Closing remarks

The Game is hosted by Mark Simon and Bob Marks and produced by Frank Bravo, BravoITC.com and YourTechMakeover.com. Watch or listen to every episode at TheGamePeninsula.com.