The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting for August 2023 on August 8, 2023 via Zoom technology. The meeting commenced at 1130 hours.
Roll Call: President Louis Barberini, Vice President Ryan Walsh, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane, Jim O’Meara and Maureen Leonard were present. Trustee Rob Forneris and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Jim O’Meara made a motion to accept last month’s minutes from our monthly meeting. Trustee Maureen Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: Communications and Bills: There were no new application, one suspension, and three reinstatements, and 97 members dropped from our roll. Member Jason Kozy was suspended due to non-payment of dues for 2023. A motion and a second were made (McDonough and O’Meara), followed by a vote to suspend Jason. Secretary McDonough will send a suspension letter to Jason Kozy’s listed address. A motion and a second were made (O’Meara and Lindo) to reinstate three suspended members who paid their 2023 dues and late fees. The motion passed to reinstate Daniel Gibbs, James Gratz, and Nicholas Sepich. Welcome back Daniel, James, and Nick. The final due date for members to pay their dues is August 1st of each year. Unfortunately, due to members relocating their home address without notifying us, active members separating from the San Francisco Police Department and leaving the area, members choosing to separate from the WOAA, and failed attempts to reach suspended members by phone, email, or mail, we have a large number of suspended members who have been dropped from our roll. The Secretary provided the President and the WOAA Board with the names of our membej.rs to be dropped. President Barberini per Article III, Section 4 of our Constitution, declared the following 2023 Unpaid Suspended members as now dropped from our roll: (Retired) Reuben A. Aguirre, Richard J. Araujo, Peter Kwadwo K. Asare III, Martin S. Bandvik, Wendy J. Bear, Nicholas Bettencourt, Jonathan A. Borzin, Terri L. Bowen, Scott R. Butland, Jonathan J. Cairo, Alan M. Callaway, Michael A. Cattaneo, Dennis E. Cesena, Chien-Ping Chou, Troy J. Courtney, Patrick T. Cummins, William A. Derro, Derik J. Dragon, Raymond D. Fernandez, Vincent S. Fontela, Krystel M. Fortie, Shawn M. Fulgado, Robert A. Gilson, Jennifer L. Granucci, Sterling C. Hayes, Joe Hernandez III, Jacob R. Horton, Jason Hui, Juan C. Jimenez-Almanza, Thomas J. Johnson, Oleksiy A. Katoliychuk, Jerry L. King, Kirk H. Leong, Jonathan R. Lucchetti, Anders J. Mac, Susan Manheimer, Brendan B. Mannix, Gregory L. Mar, Carol A. Margetts, Edward T. Markey, Richard W. Mathiesen, Chad A. Matteri, Cory M. McDowell, Charles A. Miller, Mary Morentz, Davon TJ Morgan, Lauren E. Nelsen, Joseph A. Obidi, Matthew G. O’Leary, Sean F. O’Rourke, Gretchen Parker, Matthew Parker, Colin Patino, Gary V. Peachey, Joseph J. Porta, Anthony J. Powers, Nicholas D. Rainsford, Lynn M. Reilly, Rene Julian J. Romero, Shaughn Ryan, Christopher T. Sabella, Michael A. Sheerer, John B. Shanahan, Gordon L. Shyy, Megan A. Sinclair, Holly Marie Stoumen, Nicholas A. Suslow, Kenneth B. Syring, Charles K. Tanaka, Dack O. Thompson, Craig M. Tiffe, Jason R. Trumpp, Isaac J. Valenzuela, Dorian L. Washington, Mark C. Williams, Craig D. Wilson, Sherie Wong, Johnny C. Wood; (Active Officers) Michael J. Blume, Joshua N. Cabillo, Ryan S. Crockett, Nicholas J. Cuevas, Daniel J. Faulkner, Christa L. Festa, Jiselle M. Glover, Stephen M. Hogan, Brittany N. Lewis, Julia A. Little, Michele A. Primiano, Richard Salas, David A. Sands, Jonathan S. Tong, Tecia D. Williams, Baylon D. Yee, and Angela N. Yesson.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor presented the monthly bill and beneficiary claims. Secretary Mark McDonough made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news that the following members have passed away:
Olav Per Hindahl, age 85: Olav Per Hindahl was born in Norway in 1937. Prior to his Law Enforcement career, Olav worked as a Warehouseman at the B.F. Goodrich Company. Olav entered the San Francisco Police Department on July 16, 1966. Olav was assigned to Star #1899 and worked the following assignments during his 28 plus year career: Central Police Station (September 12, 1966), City Prison (November 3, 1969), HDQR Narcotics (March 1, 1970), Inspector’s Bureau (February 5, 1976), Chief’s Office (March 7, 1977), Intelligence (August 24, 1977), Personal Crimes Investigations (July 4, 1978, Property Crimes/Fencing (June 1, 1981), Narcotics (March 1, 1991). Olav was promoted to the rank of Police Inspector on January 3, 1979, and to the rank of Police Sergeant on June 4, 1979. Olav retired with a Service Pension on October 23, 1994. Awards: Inspector Olav Hindahl, with Inspectors Calvin Nutting and Dave Toschi, Officer Rodney King and Lieutenant Charles Hoenisch were awarded the Meritorious Conduct Award for outstanding investigation for services rendered on March 3, 1984. Hindahl, Nutting, Toschi, King, and Hoenisch collectively conducted a painstaking investigation of a series of residential robberies which took place over a six-month period between August 14, 1983 through February 2, 1984. The residential robberies were perpetrated against several elderly male and female victims. The suspect would gain entry to the victim’s homes by the use of a celluloid (referred to by Officers as a “Loid”), or through an open window or door. The suspect would conceal himself in the basement and then pounce on his unsuspecting victims when the opportunity would present itself. On several occasions the suspect would tie-up the victim’s hands to their feet, and would set the home on fire if his demands were not met. On the occasions that his demands were not met he would rape the female victims. On March 5, 1984, after diligent and tenacious efforts on the part of the above-named Officers, the suspect was taken into custody and charged with 15 felony counts. Multiple felony counts were also charged on the suspect’s associates. Inspectors Olav Hindahl, Stephen Gudelj, and Assistant Inspectors Tim Foley and Mark Potter were awarded a Meritorious Conduct Award for outstanding investigation. During October 1986, Inspector Hindahl, who would monitor transaction slips sent to the Fencing Section from Pawn Shops and Second -Hand Dealers, noticed that two subjects were selling unusually large quantities of quality jewelry and silverware to some of these shops. Hindahl then researched the criminal history of the two subjects and ascertained that they shared the same home address. Hindahl also noticed that one of the subjects had prior arrests for burglary and narcotics violations and was currently on State Parole from his prison sentence for burglary. Inspector Hindahl supplied this information to Inspectors Gudelj, Foley, and Potter. Gudelj, Foley, and Potter responded to several shops and examined the property sold by the subjects, and discovered that the subjects were extremely active burglars. The Inspectors also ascertained that one victim was associated with the subjects by a frequent visitor to a dance club and that some of the burglaries occurred on the nights when the dance club held their meeting. On November 12, 1986, Inspectors Gudelj, Foley, and Potter conducted a surveillance of the suspect’s residence. At 1430 hours they observed the suspects enter a vehicle and drive to another location in San Francisco where they picked-up a third suspect. The suspects then drove to Daly City, San Bruno, and Burlingame casing several neighborhoods. The surveillance continued to a location in Burlingame where the Inspectors observed the suspects enter a dwelling. After one of the suspects exited the dwelling with a pillow case filled with stolen property all suspects were arrested and turned over to the Burlingame Police Department. An extensive investigation was necessary after the arrest, which resulted in more stolen property recovered and burglaries solved. Also, three additional associates to the criminal burglars were identified and arrested. Inspectors Hindahl, Gudelj, Foley, and Potter conducted diligent and painstaking research over a two-month period which led to the arrest of six active burglars who operated in San Francisco, Marin County, and San Mateo County. They correctly weighed and evaluated all the clues and circumstances at their disposal, and used outstanding judgement throughout the entire investigation and were awarded the Meritorious Conduct Award. Inspectors Olav Hindahl, Steve Gudelj, Marion Jackson, Gary Jiminez, and Harvey Rockwell, Officers Susan Manheimer and James Stokes, and Captain Charles Hoenisch and Lieutenant Jim Long were all awarded a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on June 1, 1987. The above listed Officers conducted an undercover Sting Operation that demanded 12 to 16 hours shifts for an investigation of a store at 2065 Mission Street. The investigation from June 1, 1987 through July 31, 1988 required the Officers to work long hours, double shifts, work on their off days, and to give up personal commitments while continuing to work their cases in the Fencing Section. Due to efforts of these Officers, 296 suspects were identified and 178 suspects were arrested for various property crimes. Inspectors Olav Hindahl and Sam Hamiton were both awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for outstanding investigation for services rendered on August 22, 1989. The successful conclusion of a felony investigation was performed with diligence and painstaking research which resulted in the arrest of a burglary suspect. Hindahl received information that a burglary suspect was operating from a cleaning service called “Clean Team”. The burglar was suspected of selling the stolen property to various Second-Hand Dealers. Hindahl contacted the cleaning service and obtained the names of the employees. Hindahl then researched the names of the employees by examining thousands of pawn slips. Inspector Hamilton of the Burglary Section was brought into the case to begin researching old cases and to locate victims of related crimes and identify stolen property. Inspectors Hindahl and Hamilton, working together, located 34 pawn tickets identifying the name of the suspect and the description of the stolen property. Thousands of dollars of stolen property were recovered from five different stores and five different burglaries were solved by both outstanding veteran Inspectors using their investigative expertise resulting in the arrest of the suspect and recovering stolen property from the five burglaries. Sergeant/Inspector Olav Hindahl, and Sergeants John Tursi, and Steve Balma, and Inspectors Jim Deasy, and Robert Brodnik, and Officers Pete Siragusa and James Zerga all received a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered in December of 1993. In early December of 1993, the Officers received information that three criminals were engaged in a conspiracy to sell crack cocaine inside of Civic Center Plaza. They immediately began a painstaking and diligent research into the information that they had received. For approximately one week the Officers conducted a surveillance of the Plaza. They made numerous inquiries of their extensive network and sources. They analyzed the clues and information they received and identified the suspects and established the location of the Civic Center Plaza connection. On December 15, 1993 they arrested two crack cocaine dealers and confiscated their crack. The Officers subsequently arrested the Oakland crack dealer connection and located and seized 1000 rocks of crack cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in the floor. On December 17, 1993 the Officers arrested another suspect in connection to the investigation, and seized approximately one-half pound of heroin, and another two pounds of cocaine. Inspector Olav Hindahl, with Inspectors Timothy Foley and Mary Stasko, and Officers Vic Aissa and Nick Rubino were all awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for an outstanding investigation. There is no date indicated in the narrative of this award. Inspector Olav Hindahl, while monitoring transaction slips from Pawn Shops and Second-Hand Dealers observed a particular name recurring in several transactions. Hindahl researched the slips and identified some of the pawned property to be stolen property from as being stolen in several recent burglaries. Foley and Stasko combined their efforts with Officers Vic Aissa and Nick Rubino of Ingleside Police Station in an attempt to identify the perpetrator(s) of the burglaries. The team of Officers conducted a lengthy investigation and determined that a Parolee and another person listed on the pawn slips were responsible for the string of burglaries in the St. Francis Wood area of San Francisco. A lengthy investigation led to the subsequent arrest of the two burglary suspects who were responsible for more than 40 burglaries. For the outstanding investigation, research, evaluations, coordination, surveillance, and arrest of two major burglars, Hindahl, Foley, Stasko, Aissa, and Rubino were all awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award.
Charles J. Sandoval, age 97: Charles J. Sandoval was born in San Francisco, California on December 12, 1925. Charlie worked as a hardwood floorman prior to entering a career in Law Enforcement. Charlie entered the San Francisco Police Department on September 5, 1950. Charlie was assigned to Star #1668 and worked the following assignments during his 30-year career: Taraval Police Station (September 18, 1950), Northern Police Station (May 2, 1955), and Charlie worked his final eighteen plus years at Central Police Station (April 9, 1962 to February 2, 1981). Charlie retired with a Service Pension on February 2, 1981. AWARDS: Charles J. Sandoval was awarded with a 3rd Grade (Bronze Medal) Medal of Valor for services rendered on May 19, 1968. Charlie, with his partner Officer John M. O’Connor who was also awarded the 3rd Grade Medal of Valor, rescued a man who was attempting to jump to his death from the roof of a seven-story building. Sandoval and O’Connor were in a very precarious position risking their own lives to save the distraught man. O’Connor suffered a serious injury. No further information available. Lieutenant William T. O’Connor, and Officers Charles J. Sandoval and William I. Glickman were awarded with a Captain’s Commendation for the apprehension and arrest of an armed rape suspect who had just raped a cleaning woman at #17 Powell Street. No further information available.
Kelly M. Waterfield, age 85: Kelly M. Waterfield was born in San Francisco, California in 1938. Kelly worked as a Clerk-Receptionist prior to entering Law Enforcement. Kelly entered the San Francisco Police Department at the age of 26 on June 16, 1965. Kelly was assigned to Star #1888 and worked the following assignments during his 38-year career: Park Police Station (September 5, 1965), Potrero Police Station (November 1, 1966), Juvenile (January 2, 1969, promoted to Assistant Inspector on August 1, 1970), Investigations (October 9, 1970, Police Recruitment/Personnel and Training October 3, 1978), Investigations ( November 16, 1978), Personnel and Training ( January 22, 1979), Consent Decree ( November 18, 1979), and for his remaining 19 years, worked at Backgrounds ( May 30, 1984 to February 14, 2003). Kelly retired with a Service Pension on February 14, 2003. AWARDS: Officer Kelly Waterfield, with Lieutenant Robert G. McFarland, Assistant Inspectors Rotea J. Gilford Jr., and Richard L. Miller, and Officers Herman L. George, and Donald J. Sloan were each awarded with a Captain’s Commendation for services rendered on February 23, 1967. The above named Officers performed their duties to effect the arrest of a suspect who was connected to theft of copper wire from a warehouse. Inspector Kelly Waterfield was awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for his outstanding performance and leadership as the Officer in Charge of the Backgrounds Division. Kelly began his role in June of 1985 through the 162nd Recruit Class of the San Francisco Police Department through the 185th Recruit Class. A total of 900 new Police Officers entered the Academy during this time. Inspector Waterfield and Sgt. Richard Parry supervised the coordination and assignment of 850 background investigations from April 22, 1995 through June 29, 1996. Kelly Waterfield additionally supervised and coordinated background investigations of numerous civilian positions including dispatchers, Reserve Officers, Patrol and Assistant Patrol Special Officers, Coroners Investigators, and OCC Investigators.
Harry Wielen, age 99 : Harry Wielen was born in San Francisco on February 20, 1024. I have very limited information on Harry Wielen, He entered the San Francisco Police Department on July 20, 1947. Harry left the San Francisco Police Department for the San Francisco Fire Department on April 1, 1948. Harry is listed as having been Lineman for the Telephone Company prior to his career in the S.F.P.D. and the S.F.F.D.
Report of Special Committee: No Special Committee at this time.
Old Business: We continue to negotiate a past President’s Dinner with Past President Al Luenow. Al and Edy have located to the “Great Northwest” and only grace the city of San Francisco an occasional visit. We will honor Al’s year when he led the WOAA Board as our President.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Barberini led the WOAA Board members in a moment of silence for our recently deceased members Charlie Sandoval and Kelly Waterfield, and for all our members who have passed away. President Barberini scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday September 12, 2023, on Zoom technology at 1130 hours.
To All Members: Members can access our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org to obtain new beneficiary forms. Click on RESOURCES on our face page and follow the link. Please complete the form with all requested information and obtain a signature from one of our WOAA Board members (see above Roll Call), or by a Notary. Send the form to the WOAA at P.O. Box 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. We receive assistance each month from outside resources that supports our efforts to bring our members the best customer service. We thank the following people for their help and support; Retired San Francisco Police (SFPD), Captain who has been the Defense Administrator for Offices at the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell, Retired S.F.P.D. Lieutenant and the host of Gold Country Reaper email that reaches thousand of Officers (active and retired), Rene LaPrevotte, retired S.F.P.D. Sergeant and the long standing editor of the SFPOA Journal Newspaper, Ray Shine, David Ng of the S.F.P.D. Personnel Office, and Kristine Singh of the S.F.P.D. Commissioner’s Office.