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Office of Citizen Complaints outlines scope, timelines and mediation program to Police Commission
Summary
The Office of Citizen Complaints told the commission it investigates civilian complaints against SFPD, aims to complete investigations within nine months (one year with exceptions), operates a mediation program (61 mediations last year) and reported demographic and disposition breakdowns for 2011; the OCC urged community use of its intake options and described language support and subpoena powers.
Manny Forst, an attorney with the Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC), briefed the Police Commission on the OCC’s role, staffing and investigative processes.
Forst said the OCC — created by a Board of Supervisors–sponsored charter amendment and operational since 1983 — is a civilian oversight office that investigates complaints about San Francisco police officers, makes policy recommendations and offers a mediation alternative. He described OCC staffing at roughly 35 people (a majority investigators, plus attorneys and support staff), subpoena authority, and a target investigation timeline of nine months (with a statutory one‑year limit in most cases).
Forst provided 2011 intake and disposition figures: 784 complaints received in 2011 (down from 854 in 2009), mediation used in 61 cases (about 7% of the 846 cases closed last year), sustained findings in roughly 7% of closed cases and other disposition breakdowns (proper conduct 25% of allegations investigated; unfounded 4%). He identified the largest allegation category as "unwarranted action" (36%), followed by "conduct reflecting discredit" (28%) and unnecessary force (10%).
Location and access: Forst said the OCC office is at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Seventh Floor, and that complainants can file in person, by phone, email or at district police stations; OCC staff offer multilingual services (Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Burmese) and after‑hours intake through an answering service.
The OCC presentation emphasized transparency and the office’s investigatory and mediation options; Forst invited community members to speak with OCC senior investigator Dennis Maxon for more information.
