The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday March 10, 2020. The meeting was held at 850 Bryant Street, room #150, at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco, California. The meeting commenced at 1230 hours.
Roll Call: President
James O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, (conference
call), Trustees Rob Forneris, Ryan Walsh, Louis Barberini, Leroy Lindo, and Ray
Kane, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Vice President Al
Luenow was excused but was available via conference call.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to accept the
minutes from our February 2020 meeting. Trustee Ryan Walsh seconded the motion.
The motion passed without objection.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions, and Reinstatements: Trustee Ray Kane will
respond to the San Francisco Police Academy on March 25, 2020 topresent our
Organization Membership to the 268th Recruit Class. There are no new
suspensions or reinstatements. However, by midnight on March 31, 2020, any
member who has not paid his/her dues will be subject to Suspension (of all
rights and privileges) by order of our President, pursuant to Article III, Section
3 of our By-Laws and Constitution. Sally Foster has sent out the bills, and
subsequently mailed a “reminder” to the unpaid members a few weeks ago. As of
this date (March 20, 2020), our list of unpaid members is in excess of 120. I
do not enjoy printing the names of members who have not paid their bill.
However, I am mandated to publish the names pursuant to our By-Laws and
Constitution. I realize that many retirees do not receive the POA Journal. For
the members who read this article, please understand our disappointment with
the high number of unpaid members. We have made a huge effort for the past few
years to emphasize the importance of staying in good standing by paying the dues
on time. We have made great efforts to reach out by mail and the internet, to
update our records with correct addresses and contact numbers. Several members
have moved to a new location and did not notify the WOAA. Our efforts were very
successful and to have this many unpaid members at this late date is
surprisingly disappointing.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the bills and
death benefit claims of fallen members William Dougherty, Timothy Cadigan, and
Donald Foulk. Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to pay the bills and death
benefits. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion. The motion passed without
objection.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: We received the sad
news of the passing of the following WOAA members:
Paul Craib, age 96: Paul Craib was born on December 6, 1923, in Stockton,
California. Paul was a Cab Driver prior to entering Law Enforcement. Paul
entered the San Francisco Police Department on May 19, 1947. Paul was assigned
to Star #1152. Paul worked the following assignments during his 27-year career:
Richmond Police Station (June 2, 1947), Co. K Traffic (August 15, 1949),
Mission Police Station (December 18, 1950), Co. K 3 Wheelers (February 5,
1951), Traffic Administration (January 1, 1969). Paul retired on January 18,
1974 with a service pension. Paul was awarded with a Second Grade Medal of
Valor for services rendered on January 27, 1955. On that day, Paul rescued a
woman who was attempting to leap off a tall building. There is no further
information on the incident. I was informed by Paul’s daughter Terri, that Paul
was born outside of Stockton in Lodi, California. Terri stated that Paul
graduated from James Lick Jr. High School and Commerce High School in San
Francisco, and that Paul later enlisted in the United States Army and was
stationed in the Phillipines during WWII.
Arvid Lindgren, age 89: Arvid
Lindgren was born on November 8, 1930, in San Francisco, California. Arvid
entered the San Francisco Police Department on September 16, 1953 and was
assigned to Star #16. Arvid must have avoided “change”, or knew a “good thing”
when he saw it because he worked in only one location for his entire career.
Arvid worked the following assignments during his 31-year career: Co. K FP
(10-26-53), Co.K APB (May 4, 1955). Arvid retired on July 10, 1984 with a
Disability Pension. Arvid was awarded a Third Grade Medal of Valor for services
rendered on June 16, 1967. Arvid, with Inspector Jim Higgins, Sergeant Thomas
Barry, and Officers Charles Bates, Dennis E. Murphy, and Steven Runyon pursued
and arrested a suspect who had just robbed a Jewelry Store. The suspect fled
the Jewelry Store and had taken refuge on the steps of old building. The
above-named Officers began to ascend up the steps when the suspect pointed his
gun at them and threatened to shoot. One Officer, in an effort to calm the
situation, discarded his firearm and approached the suspect in conversation.
During the conversation, one of the other Officers entered the building and was
able to exit a rear door behind the suspect. One officer on the stairs signaled
to the Officer behind the suspect that they would rush the suspect. All the
Officers converged on the armed suspect and engaged in a physical struggle. One
Officer was able to place his finger between the firing mechanism and the
trigger on the suspect’s firearm to stop the suspect from firing his weapon.
The Officers were able to overpower the suspect and place him in custody. Arvid was a native San Franciscan and graduated
from Mission High School where he played Varsity Football. After High School,
Arvid worked as a driver for C&W Frozen Foods prior to entering Law
Enforcement. Arvid was a member of several organizations including: The
California Indians (Skeet Shooting), the Pacific Rod and Gun Club, the Verdi
Club, the South San Francisco Elks Lodge, the Phoenix Masonic Lodge, and the
Native Sons of the Golden West #157. Arvid is survived by his loving wife
Norma, his sister-in-law Martha Kraft (Robert), brother-in-law Robert Greeno
(Barbara), and many nieces and nephews, especially Richard Kraft, who was like
a second son to him. Paul was preceded in death by his loving wife Gloria, and
is survived by his son Richard, and his daughter Terri.
Report of Special Committee: There is no Special Committee at this time.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President O’Meara led our Board in a moment of silence for all
our passed members. O’Meara scheduled next month’s meeting for Tuesday April
14, 2020. The meeting will be held at 850 Bryant Street, room #150, in the Hall
of Justice at 850 Bryant Street in San Francisco, California. O’Meara then
ended our meeting.
To All Members: WOAA members can access beneficiary forms from our website
sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on RESOURCES and the link will appear. If you
wish to change your beneficiary, please complete the form and either have it
signed by a NOTARY, or by one of our board members. Mail the form and any other
correspondence to WOAA, P.O. BOX 4247,
SAN RAFAEL, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted by cell phone 415 681-3660, or by email at markmac825@comcast.net. We express our
thanks and gratitude each month to the following people who assist our efforts
each month: Retired San Francisco Police Captain, and the current Defense
Administrator for the SFPOA Paul Chignell, retired San Francisco Police
Lieutenant and the current host of the Gold Country Reaper Website, Rene
Laprevotte, David Ng of Personnel, Risa Tom of the Police Commission Office,
and finally to the entire Traffic Command for their generosity and their time
for providing us with a location for our meetings and our files.