OCC reports fewer pending complaints; commission hears updates on SRO bulletins and data reporting

The Office of Citizens' Complaints (OCC) told the Police Commission on Aug. 15 that case handling and outreach activity have improved, but commissioners pressed staff for details on data reporting, sustained rates and newly issued department bulletins.

OCC Director Hicks presented the second-quarter report and recent activities, saying the OCC had an "adjusted total of 182 complaints" during the quarter and closed 227 complaints. "We sustained allegations in 12 complaints," Hicks said, representing roughly a 5% sustained rate for the period. Hicks also reported that OCC investigators closed more cases than they opened in a recent month and that pending caseloads have fallen from the prior year: "as of July 31 the OCC had 320 pending cases" and the director later updated the commission that the current pending total was 318.

The OCC highlighted mediation and outreach activity: the office mediated 23 cases in the quarter (about a 10% mediation rate) and has been active in community events across neighborhoods. The OCC also described categories of sustained allegations in the quarter, including neglect of duty and failures to process property or incident reports; the director said some sustained findings prompted new department bulletins and training.

Chief Greg Surr summarized recent operations and events and addressed reporting to the U.S. Department of Justice: the department's historical racial/ethnicity reporting fields (white/black/other) are insufficient, he said, and staff will present a comprehensive plan on Sept. 5 to correct reporting categories. The chief also noted an officer-involved shooting under investigation (nonfatal) and a recent large event weekend (Outside Lands) with several reported sexual-assault investigations.

Commissioners asked for the text of recently issued bulletins (including guidance restricting use of passkeys and clarifying when officers may enter SRO hotel rooms) and whether those bulletins could be elevated to Department General Orders. Director Hicks said she authored the bulletin in consultation with the department and the public defender's office and would provide copies; she noted that some protections invoked in the bulletin rest on constitutional case law and that she would work with the chief on possible general-order language.

Commissioners also pressed the OCC for more information about mediation declines (the director said 33% of officers offered mediation declined in July), training content given to OCC investigators, and comparative data on use-of-force complaints; the director said the OCC will include additional trend information in the next annual report. The commission scheduled a fuller review of race/ethnicity reporting and related audits for Sept. 5.

The briefing consolidated multiple oversight topics: case-volume trends, changes to reporting categories, outreach and mediation metrics, and policy recommendations prompted by sustained OCC findings. Commissioners requested copies of the bulletins and additional comparative data in coming reports.