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OCC reports rising caseloads and sustained findings; commission notes progress clearing disciplinary backlog
Summary
The Office of Citizen Complaints reported rising caseloads (now about 30 cases per investigator) and more sustained findings this quarter; commissioners said roughly a dozen disciplinary matters were resolved and asked staff to maintain momentum while vacancies exist on the commission.
The Office of Citizen Complaints told the Police Commission on May 5 that investigator staffing shortages are increasing caseloads and requiring triage of matters while sustained findings have risen compared with the previous year.
Director Joyce Hicks reported the OCC has opened 332 cases and closed 288 to date this year, with 425 cases pending (170 from 2009 and 255 from the current year). Hicks said the OCC now has about 13 journey-level investigators at work with two additional investigators unavailable (one on parental leave and one on extended medical leave), yielding an effective investigator workforce of roughly 15 when fully staffed. She said the per-investigator caseload rose from about 20 per investigator in Q1 2009 to approximately 30 per investigator in the current quarter.
Vice President Thomas Mazuko and other commissioners noted the Police Commission recorded roughly 12 disciplinary case dispositions in the quarter (including retirements and resignations) and said the four commissioners sitting now must continue clearing appeals and pending matters while additional members are appointed. Commissioner David Onick urged candidates for the vacant seats to be prepared to "roll up your sleeves" and handle a heavy initial caseload.
Public commenters asked for more detailed per-officer complaint counts and repeat-offender analyses; the OCC and commissioners directed residents to OCC annual reports and agreed to provide follow-up details as requested.
Next steps: the commission asked the department and OCC to return with additional data on per-officer complaint counts and requested a future agenda item to discuss transparency measures for discipline and performance reporting.
