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San Francisco OCC outlines complaint process, mediation and 2009 complaint data
Summary
Joyce Hicks, executive director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, told the Police Commission the OCC is a civilian oversight office with 35 staff that received 1,019 complaints in 2009, mediates cases and forwards sustained findings to the police chief for discipline when warranted.
Joyce Hicks, executive director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, told the San Francisco Police Commission on April 28 that the OCC investigates civilian complaints against police officers, offers mediation and makes policy recommendations to strengthen police accountability.
Hicks described the OCC as one of the largest civilian oversight offices in the country. The office, created by a voter-approved charter amendment in 1982 and operational since 1983, currently has 35 staff, most of them investigators, plus attorneys and support personnel. "When we conduct an investigation, we do so to find out what happened. We follow the evidence," she said.
Hicks gave the commission a numerical snapshot of the OCC's recent workload: in 2009 the OCC received 1,019 complaints; the office sustained allegations in about 5 percent of closed cases, found proper conduct in 27 percent of allegations investigated and labeled about 4 percent unfounded. The largest single allegation category was "unwarranted action" (37 percent), followed by "conduct reflecting discredit" (25 percent) and "unnecessary force" (11 percent). So far in 2010 the OCC reported receiving 312 complaints to date.
She also highlighted a voluntary mediation program as an alternative to formal discipline; the OCC mediated 76 complaints last year and says participating officers who are eligible have more than a 90 percent participation rate. If the OCC sustains a complaint, it forwards the matter to the police chief; the chief may impose up to 10 days suspension, while the commission retains jurisdiction over more serious discipline.
Hicks closed by explaining how residents can file complaints in person at the OCC offices on the seventh floor of 25 Van Ness (open weekdays), by phone, mail or fax, or after hours through an answering service. She said OCC staff speak multiple languages and will arrange interpretation when needed.
The commission did not take a vote on the OCC remarks; the presentation concluded with questions to the chief and captain about coordination and outreach.
