OCC reports repeated complaints, describes office break-in; commissioners press for security and staffing answers

The Office of Citizen Complaints presented its third-quarter early-warning report and described a recent burglary at its offices, prompting commissioners to request further data and immediate security measures.

OCC Director Allen told the San Francisco City Police Commission that the report, covering July 1 through Sept. 30, highlights recurring officer names across reporting periods and includes an explanatory legend. "There were 11 officers in total, 3 of which had ... received complaints in the 6 month period, 4 of which ... received complaints in a 12 month ... 10 of which had received 4 or more complaints in a 10 month period," Director Allen said, reading from the report.

During questioning, Commissioner Yvonne Lee asked whether the report could show where officers were assigned. Director Allen said station-level assignments can be listed and staff could attempt to trace which station or location an officer was at when a complaint occurred, though shift-level tracking may not be available from current systems.

Commissioners also pressed Director Allen for details about a break-in at OCC offices the prior week. Allen described alarm activation and signs of forced entry: a back office door had been propped open with a box, a file cabinet had drawers pulled open, a bolt lock was disengaged and left on the floor, and investigators found a roof door also propped open. "It appeared that nothing was taken, and I believe that the alarm triggered," Allen said. Officers searched the building and found no suspect.

Several commissioners recommended an immediate security assessment and asked whether security cameras or a building-wide sign-in system exist. Director Allen said there are currently no interior cameras and the landlord previously declined interior cameras; she said the office has magnetic locks and bolt locks but that the back stairwell is less secure. With an office move tentatively planned between January and May of next year, Allen said cameras would be considered as part of the relocation planning.

Commissioners also pressed for clarity on OCC staffing. Director Allen described hiring delays tied to changes in the Department of Human Resources’ approach to provisional hires, saying the civil-service prioritization could make permanent hiring take years under the general process. She offered to invite civil-service representatives to brief the commission on options to speed hiring.

Separately, a commissioner who attended the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement conference said the oversight community is drafting a code of ethics and brought copies of comparative annual reports for commissioners’ review.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to return with station-level complaint breakdowns and to consider a security assessment and camera options ahead of the office move; the OCC audit from the controller’s office is expected in November and will be scheduled as an agenda item when released.