The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday September 10, 2024, at 1100 hours, on Zoom.
Roll Call: President Ryan Walsh, Vice President Leroy Lindo, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Ray Kane, Jim O’Meara, Maureen Leonard, Rob Forneris, and Lou Barberini, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to accept the minutes from our August 2024 meeting. Trustee Jim O’Meara seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: No new suspensions or reinstatements. Certified Letters were sent to all unpaid suspended members notifying them they have not paid their membership dues and fees of suspension and by order of President Ryan Walsh, per Article III, Section 4 of our Constitution, are now dropped from our roll. Dropped members have two years from April 1, 2024, to apply for reinstatement. The reinstatement application must be accompanied with a payment of back dues and fees, and a letter from a physician stating that the applicant is in good health. Dropped members: Active Police Officers: Lilabeth S. Bautista, James F. Franks, Michael J. Hill Jr., Amber D. Smith, Sean C. Thompson. Retired Officers: Cody R. Barnes, Edward A. Barrientos, Michael D. Beaird, Josephine Borges, Donald A. Carlson, Adriano E. Castro, Willaim J. Conley, Luis P. DeJesus, Matthew T. Fambrini, Jennifer G. Fiorello, Aaron Fischer,
Edgar A. Gonzalez, Tracey A. Green, Dennis A. Gustafson, Donald L. Hansen, Sherry E. Hicks, Greg A. Huie, Omar U. Iverson, Jacklyn M. Jehl, Alan J. Jou, Derrick W. Lee, Alphonso J. Livingston, Caitlin A. Lowe, Jeffrey B. Lubey, Scott L. McBride, Jeffrey M. McHale, Jeremy C. Morgan, James P. Moylan, Brian Neill, Oscar A. Padilla, John Pai Jr., Troy P. Peele, Christos Sinchuk Rallis, Michael A. Shavers, Samuel A. Snadow, Brian G. Stansbury, Mychael S. Thompson, Arlen J. Vanderbilt, Omar M. Vaquerano-Herrera, Kenneth Wong, Jerrod Yee, Mark A. Yesitis.
Communication and Bills: Treasurer Taylor read aloud the monthly bills and beneficiary claims from the families of the recently deceased members. Secretary McDonough made a motion to pay the bills and claims. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news of the following members who have recently passed away:
Michael Joseph Mahoney, age 71: Michael Joseph Mahoney was born on July 18, 1953 in the Parkside Section of the Sunset District in San Francisco, California. The Mahoney family lived on 27th Avenue near Vicente Street. Mike and his family lived three blocks away from my family. Mike was three classes ahead of me at St. Cecilia Catholic Grammar School. Mike went on to graduate from St. Ignatius High School (Now S.I. College Prep). Being a younger kid in the neighborhood, you always remember the older kids who were bullies, and the ones who were nice to the younger group. Mike Mahoney was one of the nice guys, and conducted himself as a “good guy” his entire life. Mike decided to follow in his Father’s footsteps as a San Francisco Police Officer. Mike entered the San Francisco Police Department on March 14, 1977, after working as a Parking Meter Collector. Mike was assigned to Star #1622 and worked the following assignments during his 31-year career: Northern Police Station (July 3, 1977), Mission Police Station (October 9, 1977), `Hit & Run Detail/ Investigations (June 30, 1990), Homicide Detail (February 25, 2005). Mike was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant on March 18, 1992, and to the rank of Police Inspector on September 2, 1992. Mike retired with a Service Pension on February 1, 2008. I spoke with Mike’s last partner in the Homicide Detail. The retired Inspector stated that Mike was highly respected in the Homicide Detail, in all of Investigations, and in the District Attorneys Office. He stated that Mike was a great investigator as well as an expert at conducting interview and interrogation, and giving expert professional testimony in the Courtroom. Mike’s passion, drive, and work ethic in investigations was exemplary. As a member of the Hit & Run Detail, Mike was the Department expert at accident reconstruction. Mike and his brother Dan (retired Deputy Chief of the San Francisco Police Department) had a successful career sharing a business that was dedicated to accident investigations (Traffic Consultant Inc). Mike was passionate about his career, but his true joy was his family. He devoted his life to being present to his wife and daughters, and later as being the best “Papa”. Mike traveled near and far to attend games, recitals, competitions, and all of life’s celebrations because family was the single most important part of his life. Annual trips included Lake Tahoe, and Maui, as well as holidays in Scottsdale, Az and Nashville, Tn. Mike was a passionate golfer, a train aficionado, an avid reader, and an expert joke teller. Mike was fluent in movie quotes and classic rock, and the best trivia player at the table. He was loved by his family beyond measure and will be sorely missed. Mike passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 12, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lynn Mahoney, and his beloved daughters Stephanie Blackwood (Paul Roberts), and Becky Hill (Matt). Awards: Officers Michael J. Mahoney, Laura E. Carroll, Frank A. Machi, and Louis Casteneda were all awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Sunday January 7, 1979. The Officers, after long hours of dedication to duty, and astute follow up, were able to terminate the criminal career of a vicious rapist and child molester. The suspect was positively identified as the perpetrator of a brutal rape and oral copulation of a twelve-year old child and 17-year-old girl. The Officers arrested the suspect who was charged with the crimes. Police Officers Michael J. Mahoney and Luis Casteneda were both awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on August 26, 1979 when they responded to 3048 16th Street on a call of a woman with a gun. Upon arrival the Officers learned that the suspect had a rifle and had fired two shots into the alley way. The female suspect, upon seeing the Officers raised her rifle in the direction of the Officers, and cocked it. Mahoney and Casteneda slowly moved toward the armed suspect ordering her to drop the rifle, and surrender. The suspect was acting totally irrational and was babbling which allowed Mahoney and Casteneda to close the distance and wrestle the rifle away from the suspect who was then placed in custody. Police Officers Michael J. Mahoney, Luis Casteneda, William J. Kelley, and Kenneth I. Cottura were all awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Wednesday October 10, 1979, when they responded to a call of Prowlers in the housing projects at Harrison and Army Streets. The Officers arrested three suspects who had earlier perpetrated an armed robbery in the Central Police District in San Francisco. The subsequent investigation revealed that the three suspects were responsible for 15 armed robberies in the past two- month period. Police Officers Michael J. Mahoney, Richard G. Alves, and Frank A. Palma, and Sergeant Donald A. Fouke were all awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Saturday January 3, 1981 at 0330 hours when they responded to 3664A 20th Street on a call of a hostage situation. After a four-hour standoff, the suspect decided to slash the victim’s throat. The Officers closed their distance to the suspect within four feet. Mahoney, Alves, Palma, and Fouke rushed the suspect and disarmed him during a physical struggle. Due to their heroic effort, the victim survived and the Officers were awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor. Assistant Inspectors Michael J. Mahoney, and Dennis Maffei, and Inspector Marion Jackson were all awarded with a Police Commission Commendation. They combined their efforts in an investigation requiring painstaking research, crosschecking 3 years of loss reports and thousands of pawn receipts. Their efforts were rewarded with a result of solving a series of crimes and the recovery of a large quantity of stolen jewelry. Mahoney and Maffei started their investigation on their first day of being assigned to the Fencing detail. No date given on this award. Inspector Michael J. Mahoney and Officer Doughlas Frediani were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered in April of 1997. For years, the owners of 894 Innes Street in San Francisco had been operating an unlicensed premise which had taken hazardous materials. These pollutants had created a danger to the citizens of San Francisco and the environment.894 Innes is adjacent to the San Francisco Bay and the pollutants that were dumped were leaking into the Bay. The owners of the property had used the judicial system to thwart efforts to clean up the site by declaring bankruptcy and changing the ownership of the property. In April of 1997 a bulldozer operator was killed in an industrial accident on the property. Inspector Mahoney investigated the incident as a member of the Hit & Run detail. Using his knowledge and expertise, Mahoney recognized serious violations of the California Fish and Games Codes at 894 Innes and made the proper notifications. The California Fish and Game Department launched an investigation and brought about allegations of illegal dumping and a drug lab. The Fish and Games Warden sought the help of Inspector Mahoney and Officer Frediani in gaining access to 894 Innes Street. Understanding the serious implications of gaining access, Mahoney, Frediani, and the Fish and Game personnel conducted themselves in a professional manner. Inspector Mahoney and Officer Frediani coordinated the collection of the necessary information for the issuance of a valid search warrant, and its execution. The necessary information was highly technical and it is a credit to Mahoney and Frediani for their diligence and dedication. After several unsuccessful attempts by other agencies to shut down the property, Inspector Mahoney and Officer Frediani were able to successfully shut down the operation and property at 894 Innes Street, and were awarded with Police Commission Commendations.
Rene V. Neilsen. age 56: Rene V. Neilsen entered the San Francisco Police Department on June 26, 2006. Rene was assigned to Star #1882 and worked the following assignments during his 18-year career: Mission Police Station (January 20. 2007), Central Police Station (July 28, 2007), Richmond Police Station (January 4, 2014), Taraval Police Station (September 26, 2015), Southern Police Station (August 27, 2016), Richmond Police Station (December 15, 2018). Awards: Beginning in July of 2008 and spanning a 22- month period, 21 Banks in San Francisco were robbed by a 4-man robbery team. One suspect would take hostages by placing a knife against their throats while the other 3 suspects would collect the bank money. The Bank robberies peaked in 2010. Lieutenant Sainez directed member of the Criminal Investigation Unit to implement a coordinated undercover enforcement plan with members of Central Police Station and the FBI to identify and apprehend the bank robbers. Their investigation was successful as all 4 bank robbers were apprehended (no further information on the arrest). For their diligence and hard work, Lt. Sainez, Sergeants Dempsey and McKeever (no first names given), Inspector Wong, and Police Officers Koenig, Seid, Ospital, Mustafich, Lew, Castro, Guillory, Solaris, Sanders, Gonzalez, Cuidad, Hathaway, Richins, Chea, and Nielsen were awarded with Police Commission Commendations.
John A. Vannucci, age 87: John A. Vannucci was born on July 9, 1937, in San Francisco, California. John entered the San Francisco Police Department on September 16, 1964 after working as a Clerk. John was assigned to Star #673 and worked the following assignments during his 14-year career: Taraval Police Station (December 31, 1964), B.S.S (September 5, 1968), Inspector’s Bureau (November 28m 1977). John retired with a Disability Pension on February 4, 1979. Awards: Police Officer John A. Vannucci was awarded with a 3rd Grade Medal of Valor (Bronze Medal) for services rendered on May 24, 1967 in the arrest of two known auto burglars who had attempted to escape in an automobile and were pursued by Officer Vannucci on foot. Aided by heavy traffic on the street, Officer Vannucci caught up with the felons as they attempted to run him down with their vehicle narrowly missing him on two attempts. Officer Vannucci took custody of the suspects at gunpoint. Police Officer John A. Vannucci was awarded with a 3rd Grade (Bronze Medal) of Valor for services rendered on March 21, 1968, when he pursued and captured a suspect who had stabbed a man after assaulting and robbing a woman. The felon attempted to stab Officer Vannucci before he was taken into custody.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Ryan Walsh led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for all of our recent and past deceased members. President Walsh scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday October 8, 2024, at 1100 hours, on Zoom. President Walsh adjourned the meeting.
To All Members: Members may access a WOAA Beneficiary Form from our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on Resources and follow the link. Complete all requested information on the form and mail it to us at WOAA, P.O. BOX 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. The form must be signed by a Notary, or by one of our Board Members (see Roll Call for Board Members). Each month we express our gratitude to the following people who greatly assist our efforts to bring the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Captain and Defense Administrator for the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; Retired SFPD Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email that reaches thousands of Officers active and retired, Rene LaPrevotte; retired SFPD Sergeant and the long-standing Editor of the SFPOA Journal Newspaper, Ray Shine; Maggie Wang of Personnel, and Kristine Singh of the Police Commission Office.