Office of Citizen Complaints reports steady caseload; mediation use nearly matches last year

Joyce Hicks, executive director of the Office of Citizen Complaints, gave the commission an overview of OCC operations and statistics during the commission’s Aug. 27 meeting in the Mission District.

Hicks said OCC is staffed by a 37-member civilian team that conducts investigations, makes findings on whether officers violated department rules, and recommends disciplinary or policy steps. "Last year we received 954 complaints and sustained 6% of the allegations contained in those complaints," Hicks said, and added that "to date, this year, we have received 685 complaints."

Hicks described the OCC’s mediation program as an available alternative to discipline; the office had conducted 46 mediations so far this year compared with 47 for all of last year. She said mediations are voluntary and require both complainant and officer consent. When OCC sustains a complaint it forwards a report to the chief, who can impose up to a 10-day suspension; recommendations for greater discipline fall under the police commission’s jurisdiction.

Hicks also explained OCC’s access points for complainants (in-person at 25 Van Ness Ave., by phone, mail or fax) and noted that OCC investigators and attorneys are independent civilian staff who, she said, were hired to increase public trust in oversight of the department.

Commissioners thanked Hicks and asked follow-up questions about the mediation program and complaint processing; Hicks and Chief trial counsel Inez Vargas Frankel said they were available to meet community members who wanted more detail about filing or mediation processes.