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Office of Police Complaints reports record caseload, asks council for investigator positions
Summary
Director Mark Cross told the Judiciary Committee OPC opened an all‑time high of complaints in FY25 and a 33% increase in complaints as of Jan. 31, 2026. OPC said investigator caseloads now average about 19 cases and requested conversion of two vacant funded positions to investigative posts to prevent a backlog.
Mark Cross, executive director of the Office of Police Complaints, told the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety that OPC handled a record caseload in fiscal year 2025 and has seen a 33% increase in complaints year‑over‑year through January 2026.
"In fiscal year 2025 OPC opened 501 investigations and we resolved 94% of investigations within 180 days," Cross said. He added that as of Jan. 31, 2026 the agency had received 397 complaints during FY26 to date and the average OPC investigator caseload had risen to about 19 matters — higher than the 10–12 cases recommended as best practice.
Cross described outcomes that OPC seeks when complaints warrant policy change: mediation, rapid resolution, referral for training, and complaint‑examination proceedings. He said OPC lacks statutory authority to impose discipline; the agency can recommend policy or training changes and can refer four cases this year to complaint examiners for adjudication. Cross told the committee OPC is drafting policy recommendations addressing federal task‑force interactions and expected to publish them within about two months.
During questioning, committee members asked about the number and status of complaints related to federal task‑force operations; Cross said he was tracking complaint reports and could provide committee staff a fuller spreadsheet after the hearing. OPC asked the council to convert two funded but vacant positions to investigator and supervisor roles to address the expanded jurisdiction from recent reforms.
