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OCC director reports lower caseload and mediation success, wins dispute-resolution award
Summary
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, told the Police Commission the OCC received 784 complaints in 2011, facilitated 61 mediations, sustained allegations in 7% of closed cases and won a 2012 Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution Practices Award.
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC), briefed the San Francisco Police Commission on April 25, 2012, about the OCC—9s role, caseload and mediation program.
Hicks described the OCC as an independent civilian oversight agency for the San Francisco Police Department and said the office investigates civilian complaints, conducts mediations and makes policy recommendations. "We are the third largest civilian oversight of law enforcement agency in the United States," she said, noting the OCC was created by charter amendment in 1982 and became operational in 1983.
Hicks provided 2011 statistics: the OCC received 784 complaints in 2011 (an 8% reduction compared with the 854 complaints referenced for 2009 in the presentation), conducted 61 mediations and sustains roughly 7% of allegations in cases closed that year. She said the OCC aims to complete most investigations within nine months and, with limited exceptions, within a year; the OCC applies a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard and has subpoena authority.
Hicks also described outreach and language-access capabilities: the OCC staff of about 35 includes investigators, attorneys and support staff; investigators conduct interviews, visit sites and may take photographs; the office handles intake by walk-in, telephone, e-mail and mail and provides interpreters for several languages, including Cantonese, Mandarin, Burmese, Tagalog and Spanish.
She noted the OCC—9s mediation program is voluntary and reported that eligible officer participation in the mediation program exceeds 90%, and that the office had won a Community Board 2012 award for excellence in alternative dispute resolution.
Commissioners congratulated Hicks on the award and discussed outreach and the OCC—9s role in resolving complaints. The OCC director offered Senior Investigator Edward McMahon as a point of contact for questions after the presentation.
The commission did not take formal action on OCC recommendations during the meeting.
