The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday October 12, 2021 at 1230 hours, at the office of the San Francisco Police Officers Association.
Roll Call: President Al Luenow, Vice President Rob Forneris, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Lou Barberini, Ray Kane, and Jim O’Meara, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Trustees Ryan Walsh and Leroy Lindo were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Jim O’Meara made a motion to accept our minutes from September 2021 meeting. Vice President Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: There were no new applications or suspensions. Barbara Dullea paid her back dues and fees requested reinstatement. Vice President Rob Forneris made a motion to reinstate Barbara Dullea. Trustee Jim O’Meara seconded the motion. The motion passed. Welcome back Barbara Dullea who is now a member in good standing.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the regular monthly bills, beneficiary claims for the families of Matt Krimsky and Steven Ryan, a fee of $222.00 for our annual website fee, and reimbursement to Sally Foster of $993.00 (purchase of new file cabinets), and $1091.31 for the President’s Dinner on September 16, 2021.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board Members received the sad news of the passing of our following members:
Lloyd F. Crosbie, age 91: Lloyd Crosbie was born on November 9, 1929, in San Francisco, California. Lloyd was employed as an assistant Steamfitter prior to his law enforcement career. Lloyd joined the San Francisco Police Department on February 21, 1955, wore star #605, and worked the following assignments during his 30-year career: Taraval Police Station (May 2, 1955), Central Police Station (January 31, 1963), Ingleside Police Station (promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant and transferred to Ingleside on March 17, 1971), Inspector’s Bureau (February 7, 1973), Mission Police Station (promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant and transferred to Mission Station on March 19, 1975), Richmond Police Station (December 7, 1975), Inspector’s Bureau (April 28, 1976), Support Services Crime Lab (March 30, 1977), Park Police Station (November 9, 1977), Investigations Property Crimes (April 5, 1978), Investigations Personal Crimes (July 2, 1978), Ingleside Police Station (May 11, 1978), Park Police Station (promoted to the rank of Police Captain and transferred to Park Station on July 1, 1981). Lloyd retired with a service pension on December 26, 1984.
AWARDS: Lloyd Crosbie was awarded with a Gold Medal of Valor listed as a First Grade Award for Valor (back in the day). For services rendered on December 22, 1959 in the arrest of three- armed holdup men who were in the act of committing a holdup (armed robbery) of a Motel night clerk. Lloyd, arriving at the scene alone, and single-handedly captured and disarmed the suspects. Lloyd was awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for outstanding investigation on March 15, 1960.
Joseph L. Vigil, age 84: Joseph Lawrence Vigil was born on April 26, 1937 in Durango, Colorado. Joe’s family moved to San Francisco during Joe’s childhood. Joe graduated from Mission High School in San Francisco in 1955. Joe received his AA degree from City College of San Francisco. Prior to his Law Enforcement career, Joe served his country as a member of the United States Army. Joe was employed as a Drug Clerk prior to his law enforcement career. Joe entered the San Francisco Police Department on June 16, 1965 and wore Star #1887. Joe worked the following assignments during his 25-year career: Park Police Station (September 5, 1965), Ingleside Police Station (November 1, 1966), Communications (April 7, 1966), Southern Police Station (December 28, 1976), and Potrero Police Station (January 28, 1981). Joe retired with a service pension after 25 years on July 6, 1990.
AWARDS: Joe and his partner Michael Coffey were awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for outstanding investigation. For services rendered on Sunday March 21, 1976. Vigil and Coffey conducted an outstanding investigation for a Robbery/Murder of an Eagle Cab driver at 19th and Mission Streets. Vigil and Coffey correctly weighed and evaluated all the clues and circumstances at their disposal. Their persistence and checking numerous locations in the area led them to the suspects. Joe Vigil and Michael Coffey exerted quick action in placing the suspects under arrest without resistance or escape. Joe Vigil, with Officers Richard Cairns, Michael Lawson and Henry Bakay were awarded with Gold Medals of Valor for services rendered on Wednesday December 14, 1977. The Officers responded to a “217” (shooting) at 374 5th Street and learned that this was the scene of a fire. The 217 victim was a San Francisco Fireman who was shot by a suspect who may be heavily armed with a shotgun. Officers Vigil and Bakay forced entry into the suspect’s apartment which had been barricaded by a mattress. Vigil and Bakay entered the smoke-filled room and were immediately fired upon by the suspect who narrowly missed them. Vigil and Bakay backed out of the room and attempted to negotiate a surrender with the suspect. The suspect would not surrender. Tear gas was fired into the suspect’s premises. Officer Lawson and Cairns donned gas masks and entered the suspect’s apartment. As Cairns and Lawson opened the kitchen door, the suspect ambushed them by firing at them. A bullet struck Cairn’s rifle rendering it inoperable. Officer Cairns using his service revolver, and Officer Lawson using his shotgun, returned fire. Cairns and Lawson backed out of the apartment and waited while the Fire Department who turned their high-pressure hose on the interior of the apartment. After waiting for an hour, the Officers re-entered the suspect’s apartment and located the suspect laying face down in the kitchen as a result of being struck with numerous gun-shots. The suspect died while enroute to the Hospital while Officer Cairns was treated at the Hospital for gun-shot fragments in the left hand and left leg. The Coroner ruled that the suspect died as a result of self-inflicted gun-shot wound. Joe Vigil with Sergeant William Miller were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on Friday July 10, 1981. Sergeant Miller and Officer Vigil responded to a call of a suicide at 2554 San Bruno Avenue. They entered the man’s apartment and observed the suicide suspect holding a four-inch buck knife blade to his throat. Sergeant Milller and Officer Joseph Vigil, exposing themselves to serious injury rushed the suspect and disarmed him of the knife, after a violent struggle. Miller and Vigil manifested outstanding bravery in an extremely dangerous situation and saved a human life. After retiring from the San Francisco Police Department, Joe worked as Celebrity Security for best-selling author Danielle Steele and worked many years as a security specialist for the Esprit Corporation. Joe was a life-long baseball fan, and played softball his most of his adult life hanging up his cleats at age 67. Joe replaced his cleats with dancing shoes and frequented Bay Area ballrooms with his wife Virgie. Joe lived each day with a sisters Margaret Greco, Josephine F. Vigil Ruybal, Estella Genna, brother Roldan Vigil; and daughter Anna Stephens. He is survived by his wife Virginia “Virgie” Vigil of 26 years; son Robert J. Vigil and his wife Margie; daughter Selina Vigil, 8 grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Report of Special Committee: No Special Committee at this time.
Old Business: We honored 2018 President Leroy Lindo with a dinner on Thursday September 16, 2021. We are now backed up for 2 more dinners for past presidents Ray Kane (2019), and Jim O’Meara (2020). The Covid-19 Pandemic did not allow us to honor our past presidents. Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane, and Jim O’Meara remained with our Board as Trustees.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: The WOAA Board observed a moment of silence for the passing of Lloyd Crosbie, Joseph Vigil and for all our members who have passed away. The meeting was adjourned. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday November 9, 2021 on Zoom technology.
To All Members: Members can obtain a new beneficiary form by visiting our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on Resources on our face page and follow the link. Print out the form and complete it with all requested information. The form must be signed by a Notary, or, by one of our Board Members (see Roll Call for names of Board Members). Please mail the form to WOAA, P.O. BOX 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted at 415 681-9660 for questions or information. Each month we extend our thanks and gratitude to the individuals who help our organization. We thank retired San Francisco Police Department Captain and the current Defense Administrator of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA) Paul Chignell, retired San Francisco Police Department Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email site Rene LaPrevotte, retired San Francisco Police Department Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the SFPOA Journal Ray Shine, Risa Tom of the San Francisco Police Commission Office, David Ng of Personnel, and President Tony Montoya of the SFPOA for affording us the use of their office for occasional monthly meetings.