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San Francisco Office of Citizen Complaints reports high mediation use, low sustained rates
Summary
Joyce Hicks, director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, briefed the commission on OCC staffing and functions, reporting 1,021 complaints last year with sustained findings in about 4% of cases and widespread use of voluntary mediation.
Joyce Hicks, director of the San Francisco Office of Citizen Complaints, told the commission the OCC is an independent civilian oversight office responsible for investigating complaints against San Francisco police officers and making policy recommendations. "Our office was created by voter initiated charter amendment in 1982 and became fully operational in 1983," Hicks said, describing the OCC’s mission to "ensure police accountability by conducting fair, timely, and unbiased investigations."
Hicks said the OCC is staffed by 35 civilians, mostly investigators, and noted that the office operates a widely used mediation program. "Last year, the office of citizen complaints mediated 71 complaints. This year to date, the OCC has facilitated 61 mediations," she said, adding that mediation panels are composed of neutral mediators from community partners including the San Francisco Bar Association and that participation is voluntary.
On complaint volumes and outcomes, Hicks provided the OCC’s statistics: "Last year, we received 1,021 complaints and sustained allegations in 4 percent of them. ... So far this year, we've received 770 complaints." She also gave a racial breakdown of complainants as reported by the OCC and described outreach and language capabilities, noting staff speak multiple languages and the office accepts walk-ins, calls, fax and mail.
Hicks concluded by summarizing OCC operations and inviting commissioners and the public to use OCC resources for oversight and complaint resolution.
