The Widows and Orphans Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their -monthly meeting on October 8, 2024, at 1100 hours, on Zoom technology.
Roll Call: President Ryan Walsh, Vice President Leroy Lindo, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Ray Kane, Maureen Leonard, Rob Forneris, Lou Barberini, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Trustee Jim O’Meara was excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to accept the minutes from our September 2024 meeting. Secretary Mark McDonough seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: No new applications or suspensions this month. Certified letters were mailed to our Dropped Members who were listed in the September minutes. Dropped member Bill Conley was reinstated after we received his dues and late fees, and his Doctor’s note. Jordan Oryall and Kenneth Wong were dropped in error as they’re dues and late fees were made prior to the drop deal line. My apology to both Jordan and Kenneth who were suspended but had their drop rescinded by order of President Walsh. Members Bill Conley, Jordan Oryall, and Kennth Wong are members in good standing.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Taylor read aloud the regular monthly bills, and beneficiary claims from the listed beneficiaries of recently passed members Mario DiLorenzo, Thomas Dougherty, Luciano Ortega, Edmund Pryal, Peter Sorenson, and John Vannucci. Secretary McDonough made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. President Lindo seconded the motion. The motion passed. The WOAA received a donation in the memory of the recently deceased Michael Mahoney from Alison C. Dinfotan. We thank Alison for her generosity.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news of our recently passed member:
Dennis A. Gustafson, age 81: Dennis Alan Gustafson was born to Fred and Myra Gustafson on July 17, 1943 in San Rafael, California. Dennis was the second of four children. Dennis was drafted into the United States Army while in his senior year of High School. Dennis took part in “Operation Mongoose” in November of 1961. Operation Mongoose was a top-secret assault by United States Military on Cuba, in response to the failed mission of the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April of 1961. President John F. Kennedy authorized the covert operation on November 30, 1961. The operation was an extensive campaign of terrorist attacks on the Cuban government which aimed on removing Fidel Castro and his Cuban government from power. The operation was run out of JMWAVE a major secret covert operations and intelligence gathering station on the campus of the University of Miami. The operation was led by Unites States Air Force General Edward Lansdale on the Military side, and William King Harvey of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). I initially was unable to locate information on Dennis Gustafson’s part in the secret mission. Retired S.F.P.D Lieutenant Rene LaPrevotte, with help from Retired S.F.P.D Captain Greg Corrales helped point me in the right direction. I contacted the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco. I received unsubstantiated information that Dennis had received an award from the Marines Memorial Club his part in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. I subsequently received information from the Gustafson family that Dennis was awarded for his part in “Operation Mongoose’. The Marines Memorial did not have any information on Dennis’ award or his participation in Operation Mongoose. The Marines Memorial Club provided a contact number for the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo. The Record Center had a series of recordings and I was unable to reach a live person. The recording stated that a request for information must be in writing and signed by a family member for the Military Personnel of question. LaPrevotte and Corrales then directed me to retired U.S. Army and San Francisco Police Officer Michael McElligott. Arriving full circle, I was back with the San Francisco Police Department. McElligott relayed the following information: Dennis Gustafson, a member of the Army Special Forces, was awarded at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco. McElligott crossed paths with Dennis at the event. McElligott asked Dennis why he was attending the event. Dennis told McElligott his account of being deployed with a small group in Operation Mongoose. He stated he and his group were dropped off in the Cuban waters about 4 miles from shore on the southwestern section of the island. The group of approximately 30 soldiers swam the 4 miles to shore carrying rockets. Once at shore, the group fired the rockets blowing-up several Cuban Military tanks and planes. After their ammunition was expended, the group, under fire, swam away and hid amongst the Mangrove tree roots for 2 days. On the 3rd day the remaining few soldiers in the group swam the 4 miles out to sea to the awaiting Naval Ship that took them home to a Military Base where they were debriefed and ordered to never talk about the mission. Gustafson told McElligott that he never talked about the mission until their discussion at that moment. When Officers walk down the hall at Police Headquarters (for my group it was the Hall of Justice), and nod hello to another passing Officer they have never met, neither Officer knows anything about the other. Little do we know the experiences or struggles the other person may have endured. Dennis’ part in Operation Mongoose was an account of a group of courageous hero’s whose story was buried for decades by the U.S. Government. There are more people just like Dennis from other wars and battles in the name of the United States of America. Some of them we have met and know. Others we know nothing about. A good lesson to never pre-judge anyone. Special thanks go out to Rene LaPrevotte, Greg Corrales, and Michael McElligott. Dennis is listed as having been employed as a “Postal Clerk” prior to his Law Enforcement career. Dennis entered the San Francisco Police Department on October 16, 1966, and was assigned to Star #660. Dennis, sporting a long handlebar mustache, took great pride in his career. He walked a beat and was able to meet and know citizens on a personal basis. He also took great pride lending aid after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. Dennis sponsored more than one immigrant family to help start their business. Dennis worked in the following assignments during his 29-year career: Northern Police Station (January 30, 1967), Potrero Police Station (April 7, 1969), Ingleside Police Station (May 4, 1972), Southern Police Station (June 17, 1973), Community Services (November 9, 1989, promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant on May 7, 1980, and promoted to rank of full Police Inspector on November 19, 1980), Inspector’s Bureau/ General Work Detail (January 18, 1991). Dennis retired with a Service Pension on January 2, 1995. Dennis met Kathleen Austin, the love of his life, shortly after retirement. They spent nearly 20 years of a loved filled, and adventurous years together until Kathleen’s untimely passing. Throughout his lifetime, Dennis had survived cancer, gun and knife violence, multiple vehicle accidents, and an avalanche. Workers had to dig him out to save him. His daughter Taylor stated he was “claustrophobic” for the remainder of his life. During one arrest as a Police Officer, Dennis was “run-through” by a sword. The sword penetrated Dennis’ torso and had protruded out of his back. Dennis passed away peacefully in his sleep due to multiple organ failures causing his decline. Dennis was 81 years of age at his passing. Dennis is survived by three Adult children, and three grandchildren. Awards: Dennis A. Gustafson and Warren B. Hargraves were each awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday August 8, 1978. Dennis and Warren were investigating a silent robbery alarm at 6 Leland Avenue (Bank of America), at 1415 hours. The Officers quickly discovered that the call was a Bank robbery in progress. Gustafson and Hargraves observed a woman with a revolver in hand, and a male suspect armed with a sawed-off shotgun. The suspects had their weapons pointed at approximately 15 people lying in the prone position on the Bank floor. The Officers notified Communications Dispatch of the crime in progress and directed support units to cover all Bank exits on the perimeter. The armed suspects exited the Bank and were commanded by the Officers to stop. The female suspect surrendered immediately and dropped her weapon; however, the male suspect ran back into the bank and held the persons inside, as hostages. While waiting for back up, the Bank Assistant Operations Officer opened the front door to the Bank and informed the Officers that the suspect wished to surrender. The suspect was taken into custody.
Report of Special Committee: 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 Walsh led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for recently passed member Dennis A. Gustafson, and for all our passed members. President Walsh adjourned the meeting and scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday November 12, 2024, at 1100 hours, on Zoom.
To All Members: Members can access WOAA Beneficiary Forms from our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on the Resources box on our face page and follow the link. Print the form and complete it with all required information. Send the new form to WOAA, P.O. Box 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. We give thanks to the following people who help us each month and help us provide the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the Defense Administrator of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, Paul Chignell; retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email, Rene LaPrevotte; retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the San Francisco Police Officers Association Journal Newspaper, Ray Shine; Maggie Wang of Personnel and Kristine Singh of the Police Commission Office.
