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OCC director reports 672 complaints through November 2013; several sustained findings led to admonishments or retraining
Summary
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizens Complaints, presented Jan'Nov 2013 statistics: 672 cases received, 659 closed, 36 sustained; commissioners pressed for clarity on follow-up interviews when new evidence arises and on progressive discipline.
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizens Complaints, presented the OCC's comprehensive statistical report covering Jan. 1 through Nov. 30, 2013. Hicks reported that the OCC received 672 complaints during that period and closed 659; 36 cases were sustained in 2013 compared with 48 sustained in the same period in 2012. As of Nov. 30, recorded pending caseload was 320.
Hicks summarized several adjudicated sustained complaints and the discipline imposed: examples included a written reprimand for an officer who wrongfully searched a trunk and failed to collect traffic-stop data; admonishments and retraining in cases of neglect of duty or giving incorrect landlord-tenant advice; and an admonishment after an officer was found aggressive and demeaning to a person experiencing a nonviolent psychiatric emergency. In one case the chief found insufficient evidence and imposed no discipline; in others the chief adjudicated and imposed discipline ranging from admonishment to retraining.
Commissioners asked about the prevalence of admonishments versus suspensions and whether follow-up interviews could be used to probe alleged officer falsehoods. Director Hicks said some procedural questions may be appropriate for closed session but explained that investigations can be reopened if new evidence arises or if a party requests a hearing; she described practical limits on repeated interviews once a preliminary determination is made.
Commissioner Chan and Commissioner Loftus sought clarity about the OCC's progressive-discipline approach and how the chief's decision to impose admonishments was reached in listed cases; Hicks said admonishments often reflected first-time findings while repeated or more serious misconduct can result in reprimands or additional discipline.
The discussion closed with confirmation that a number of adjudications had resulted in admonishment, retraining or reprimand, and that supervisory and procedural clarifications would be considered in follow-up commission work.
