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OCC director outlines complaint process, reports 784 complaints in 2011 and high officer mediation participation
Summary
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, told the commission the OCC received 784 complaints in 2011, sustained allegations in 7% of closed cases, closed 846 cases last year and ran 61 mediations (7% of closures); OCC aims to complete most investigations within a year and uses subpoena power and mediation to increase accountability.
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, briefed the San Francisco Police Commission on the OCC’s role, powers and 2011 caseload at the Park District meeting.
Hicks said the OCC is separate from the police department and is the city’s civilian oversight body for police misconduct investigations. She told the commission the office has 35 staff (mostly investigators) and subpoena authority to compel testimony and records. Hicks said the OCC aims to finish investigations within nine months where possible and, with limited exceptions, within a year; findings are made on the preponderance of the evidence standard.
On outcomes, Hicks said the OCC received 784 complaints in 2011 and closed 846 cases last year; sustained findings were reached in about 7% of closed cases, while roughly 25% of allegations were found to show proper conduct and 4% were unfounded. The OCC offered mediation as an alternative to discipline; it facilitated 61 mediations in 2011, representing about 7% of its closed caseload, and reported a 92% eligible‑officer participation rate in mediation.
Hicks described intake and language access: the OCC conducted 28 Spanish intakes and handled Cantonese and Mandarin intakes as well; staff members include bilingual investigators and the office partners with community boards and the San Francisco Bar Association for mediation. She also noted that when the OCC forwards cases with recommended discipline greater than a ten‑day suspension, jurisdiction for those matters rests with the Police Commission.
The director invited residents to use multiple intake channels: in‑person at 25 Van Ness Avenue, by phone, email or by filing a complaint at a district police station for forwarding to the OCC.
