The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at 1100 hours.
Roll Call: President Leroy Lindo, Vice President Ray Kane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Jim O’Meara, Louis Barberini, and Ryan Walsh were present. Trustees Maureen Leonard, Rob Forneris, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Vice President Ray Kane made a motion to accept the June 2025 meeting minutes. President Leroy Lindo seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: There are no new applications for membership and no new suspensions. Suspended member Mark Monpas paid his dues and fines. Trustee Ryan Walsh made a motion to reinstate Mark Monpas. Vice President Ray Kane seconded the motion. The motion passed. Welcome back Mark Monpas. The following 2025 suspended members, who were sent letters of suspension, did not respond and did not pay their dues and fines. By order of our President Leroy Lindo per WOAA Constitution Article III, Section 4, he declared these suspended members as dropped from our roll: ACTIVE OFFICERS: Carla S. Brown, Gregory Burchard, John W. Kenyon, Ezra Kwon, Megan A. Monahan, Daniel R. Owens, Augustin Perez. RETIRED Members: Fidel Abea, Destiny R. Anderson, Malcolm Anderson, David J. Bowman, Todd Brothers, Robert Canedo, Michael R. Chantal, Eric Chiang, Amanda Y. Dunne, Henry Espinoza, Warren W. Farinas, Heather L. Fegan, Jacob W. Fegan, Denise Flaherty, Steve A. Ford, Timothy F. Fowlie, Charles Gale, Joseph L. Garbayo, Joseph M. Giannini, Scott A. Heindohrn, Jennifer L. Hennesy Jones, Dean S. Hirst, Richard J. Jones, Andrea Joseph, Norman S. Lee, Charles A. Miller, Susan M. Nangle, John J Norment, Dominic J. Orlando, Daniel A. Perea, Alex W. Pinnel, Alez C. Rodatos, Brian D. Rodriguez, Angela Rossini, Robert D. Rutledge III, Peter Schlegle, Anthony S. Srinivas, Roderick Suguitan, Kenneth Tan, Robert A. Terry, Gerald S. Thompson, Jordan R. Townsend, Thomas J. Walsh, Matthew E. Wise. The forementioned dropped members have 2 years from their drop date of July 1, 2025 to apply for reinstatement. Reinstatement requires a payment of back dues and fines ($10 per every month of late payment) and documentation from their physician that the dropped member is in good health.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the monthly bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Lou Barberini made a motion to pay the beneficiary claim for recently deceased member Larry Gray Sr., and our monthly bills. Trustee Ryan Walsh seconded the motion. The motion passed. Treasurer Dean Taylor received a very generous donation from Sal Marota for the honor and remembrance of two recently deceased members, Pat O’Shea and Larry Gray. Both O’Shea and Gray were dear friends to Sal. Pat O’Shea and Sal Marota were radio car partners back in the day, and Larry Gray was a close friend who was able to attend Sal’s surprise 100 birthday celebration. Thank you to Sal for the donation and for honoring and remembering his two close friends and WOAA members.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news of the passing of the following members:
John Shine, age 74: John Shine was born on December 31, 1951, in San Francisco, California. John worked as a Deputy Sheriff in San Francisco prior to working for the San Francisco Police Department. John entered the San Francisco Police Department on July 2, 1975. John was assigned to Star #1373 and worked the following assignments during his career: Park Police Station (December 28, 1975), Central Police Station (April 18, 1978), Tactical (September 23, 1981), P&T & DP (October 9, 1983). John Shine retired on May 14, 1986 with a Disability Pension.
Wayne J. Smith, age 75: Wayne John Smith was born on October 12, 1949, to Mary and Albert Smith in San Francisco, California. Wayne grew up in the Westlake section of Daly City and graduated from Westmoor High School in 1968. After High School Wayne served 2 years in the United States Navy where he continued playing football overseas. Following his service, he attended the City College of San Francisco and earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Wayne spent a few years managing restaurants before discovering his true calling in public service. Wayne entered the San Francisco Police Department on July 28, 1975, at the age of 24, and was assigned to Star #1531. Wayne worked the following assignments during his 30-plus year career: Richmond Police Station (December 28, 1975), Northern Police Station (February 11, 1976), Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF) Parks & Beaches (January 2, 1980), Richmond Police Station (promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant on May 3, 1986 and transferred), Potrero Police Station (June 25, 1988), CPC Hondas (July 22, 2000-2007). Wayne John Smith retired with a Service Pension in 2007. Wayne loved his time with the S.F.P.D. and cherished the camaraderie he shared with his fellow Officers. He was proud of his life in public service and the deep friendships he built along the way. Outside of work Wayne lived his life to its fullest being active in boating and waterskiing at his family’s place in Discovery Bay. Wayne was an avid golfer, a passionate runner, lifelong weightlifter and a self-appointed movie critic. Wayne was a natural story teller with a quick wit, and was always ready with a joke, a memory, or a helping hand. He was deeply involved with his children’s lives, coaching all their sports and activities. Coaching remained a passion long after his children were grown. For the past 15 years he dedicated himself to youth flag football programs in the Los Altos area, becoming a mentor to countless kids and families. Wayne is remembered as kind, generous, thoughtful, energetic, and endlessly supportive- a true coach in every sense of the word. Whether you knew him as a dad, papa, husband, brother, uncle, friend, or fellow Officer, you knew him as a protector and a free-spirited advisor who always showed up for others. His garden thrived just like the relationships he nurtured with care, humor, and love. Wayne is survived by his beloved wife Kay, his daughter Elena; and his sons Mike (Mandy) and Danny (Darci). He was a proud and devoted grandfather to five grandchildren Keira (17), Brody (13), Jake (12), Palmer (3), and Weston (1). He is also survived by his brother, Dicky (Wendy), and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary, and his brother Skip. If you knew Wayne- a loving husband, dad, papa, coach, and friend- you knew that family meant everything to him. AWARDS: Officer Wayne J. Smith, with Officers Donald I. Hensic, Douglas Kidd, Michael P. Lawson, Mark A. Potter, Richard G. Sheehan, Richard G. Sudano, and Michael F. Travis were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on Thursday June 5, 1980 when they responded to 1125 Folsom Street. Radical group Tribal Thumb were on the premises. Tribal Thumb was a branch of the Black Liberation Army. Officer Smith and the other listed Officers received information that gang members at that location were armed with firearms and explosive devices and posed a dangerous threat to Police Officers. Officers Smith, Hensic, Kidd, Lawson, Potter, Sheehan, Sudano, and Travis, risking their own lives entered the premises and arrested 5 people for a variety of charges. Officers Wayne J. Smith and Jerry C. Donavan were each awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday, November 3, 1981, at 1730 hours. Smith and Donavan apprehended an armed suspect who attempted to rob a grocery store at 501 Fell Street. The suspect fatally wounded the proprietor by shooting him in the head with a sawed-off shotgun. Officers Smith and Donavan responded to the area in search of the suspect. They located a man matching the suspect’s description at Buchanan and Haight Streets. They approached the suspect and observed a large black handle protruding from his waist. The suspect, upon seeing the Officers approach, placed his hand on his waist while turning away from facing the Officers. The suspect attempted to remove the sawed-off shotgun from his waist band area, however, Smith and Donavan rushed the suspect and engaged in a physical struggle. During the struggle, the suspect’s sawed-off shotgun fell to the pavement. Smith and Donavan were able to overpower the suspect and place him in custody, and seized the sawed-off shotgun. Officers Smith and Donavan exhibited bravery while risking their lives and the lives and safety of the public by subduing of army robbery/murder suspect. Sgt. Wayne J. Smith, with Lieutenant Roy C. Hicks, and Officers Anthony R. Johnson and William A. Tercero were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday December 12, 1987 at 0301 hours. Lt. Hicks responded to a Trespassing call at 292 25th Avenue. Upon his arrival Lt. Hicks heard a woman’s voice from inside the premises as she was screaming for help. Hicks knocked on the door and two women exited the room telling Lt. Hicks that there was a man armed with a knife and that he was going to kill everyone. Lt. Hicks was also informed that there was a small child on the premises. Lt. Hicks immediately call for back-up. Lt. Hicks entered the premises and observed the armed suspect holding a butcher knife. Lt. Hicks repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the knife. The suspect refused as Officer Johnson arrived. Lt. Hicks and Officer Johnson repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the knife and approached the suspect who then lunged at the Officers with the knife. Officer Johnson sprayed the suspect with Mace (since replaced by pepper spray, and described as liquid chemical agent) but it had no effect on the suspect. Lt. Hicks, fearing for his life and Officer Johnson’s life fired his service revolver once hitting the suspect’s hand that held the knife. Sgt. Smith and Officer Tercero arrived. The suspect did not drop the knife, however, he lowered his hand giving the Officers the opportunity to rush him. A physical struggle ensued and the Officers were able to overpower the suspect while disarming him. The suspect was placed in custody. Lt. Hicks, Sergeant Smith and Officers Johnson and Tercero exhibited bravery in using physical force to disarm an armed suspect who could have injured or killed the Officers.
Robert H. (Jocko) Rogers III, age 79: Bob Rodgers was born on November 23, 1945, just a couple months after the end of World War II. Bob’s birth date was also the end of most wartime food rationing in the United States of America. Bob entered the San Francisco Police Department on March 14, 1977. Bob was assigned to Star #32, and he worked the following assignments during his 29- year career: Mission Police Station (July 3, 1977), Northern Police Station (October 19, 1977), Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF) (October 2, 1979), Mission Police Station (April 2, 1980_, Central Police Station FTO (August 15, 1980), Tactical EOD (March 4, 1983), Central Police Station (May 2, 1984), Potrero Police Station (August 5, 1985), Investigations (promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant and transferred on April 6, 1986), Burglary Detail (July 11, 1986), Potrero Police Station (Bob was promoted to Police Inspector on May 3, 1988 and transferred to Potrero Police Station on August 20,1988), Ingleside Police Station (November 13, 1988), Taraval Police Station (February 18, 1989), Burglary Detail (January 19, 1991), Photo Lab (January 21, 1992), Burglary Detail (February 11, 1995). Bob retired with a Service Pension on June 30, 2006. AWARDS: Police Officers Robert H. Rogers, George S. Stasko, and James E. Drago received Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday May 20, 1979, at 2318 hours. The Officers intuitive actions led them to an armed suspect who was found to have a stolen social security card from an armed robbery, and suspected Heroin in addition to a firearm. Officers Rogers, Stasko, and Drago spotted the suspect in a restaurant. The suspect fled and knocked over tables during his attempted escape. The suspect had a gun in his hand but could not concentrate on any one Officer. Officer Drago then “pounced’ on the suspect. The Officers disarmed the suspect and placed him under arrest. Officer Robert H. Rogers and George S. Stasko were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Thursday September 27, 1979, at 2305 hours. On that date and time, Rogers and Stasko apprehended a male suspect for trespassing in the rear of the premises of 2314 California Street. Rodgers and Stasko observed the suspect to have blood spattered clothing. Further investigation led the Officers do discover evidence of a brutal murder implicating the suspect as culpable and subsequently booked for the murder charge. Police Officers Robert H. Rogers and Gerald R. Golz were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on Monday February 15,1982 at 0930 hours. Rogers and Golz, while on routine patrol in the area of North 5th and Ellis Streets, observed and arrested a wanted suspect responsible for 10 robberies of banks and savings and loan companies. The Officers professional manner in which they performed the arrest, the follow-up investigation, the obtaining of a search warrant, and evidence seizure resulted in a conviction of this dangerous suspect. Police Officers Robert H. Rogers and Dale L. Allen were both awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Sunday September 4, 1983 when they responded to the 100 block of Haight Street where a serious fight was taking place. Rogers and Allen arrived and observed one man stab another man with a knife. Officer Allen grabbed the knife as Officer Rogers fought his way to the back of the armed suspect and used his baton to place the suspect in a control hold. Officer Allen used his baton to control suspect 2. Both suspects had to be placed in custody during a physical battle. Inspector Robert H. Rogers was awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for an outstanding investigation on Sunday October 11, 1987. Rogers was investigating a Hot Prowl burglary committed on Thursday October 8, 1987 at 2300 hours. In this case, the female victim had returned home and was confronted by the suspect who tied both of the victim’s hands and feet, and then searched the apartment for Jewelry. Rogers was assigned to the case the next morning with very little to go on. However, Inspector Rogers’ quick action and willingness to work through the weekend and his days off resulted in the clearing of a major crime. Rogers had interviewed the victim, and documented the facts and statements made by the suspect.to the victim. A composite Sketch was made of the suspect and Rogers discovered the victim’s jewelry was attempted to be sold to a Pawnbroker by the suspects girlfriend. These investigative steps lead to the arrest of the suspect. Rogers’ example of diligence, painstaking research, and an investigation excellence earned Rogers the Meritorious Conduct Award for an outstanding investigation. Inspectors Robert H. Rogers, Michael Biel, and Eric Olsen, with Sergeant Nicholas Rubino were all awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for an outstanding investigation. Services were rendered in 1996 when Rogers, Biel, Olsen, and Rubino conducted a diligent investigation into a series of commercial burglaries which had plagued the Chinatown area of San Francisco for over a month. The investigation and research by the Inspectors and Sergeant culminated in the apprehension of the apprehension of the suspect who had wreaked havoc and created fear in the Chinatown area. Rogers, Biel, Olsen, and Rubino conducted a thorough and diligent investigation with painstaking research of available information, correctly weighing and evaluating available clues and circumstances and developing a plan of action successfully led to the arrest of the suspect and ended the crime wave. Inspectors Robert H. Rogers, Rich Leon, Eric Olsen, Greg Ovanessian with Officers Al Melendez, Hames Lewis, Melvin Thornton, and Kevin Whitfield were all awarded with Meritorious Conduct Awards for an outstanding investigation. Working as a team, the above- mentioned Inspectors and Officers brought an end to two major fencing operations in the Tenderloin District. The Fencing operations were conducting their business for years. The team conducted painstaking research, developed pertinent information, evaluated clues and used a variety of resources to bring these long-time operations to a close with suspects arrested and charged.
William S. Taylor, age 87: William Standley Taylor was born in San Francisco, California, on May 28, 1938. On that day, Adolf Hitler declared he is ordering his military forces to invade Czechoslovakia, and to destroy their military. The depression era was present and ended on December 8, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was bombed. That started America’s involvement in World War II. This was a different time in the United States and globally. The men and women of that time in History learned how to be strong and tough very quickly. Bill Taylor was no exception. Bill graduated from Polytechnic High School and then signed up with the United States Marine Corps. Bill’s life was dedicated to serving his country, and later the citizens of San Francisco as a Police Officer. As a member of the U.S. Marines, Bill proudly served in the 1st Anit-Tank Battalion of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton from 1957 to 1964. Bill’s 32-year career as a San Francisco Police Officer began in 1968. Bill was a valued member of the Tactical Unit and the SWAT Team responding to some of San Francisco’s dire emergencies, earning the respect of the Community and his fellow Officers. Bill was assigned to Mayor Art Agnos’ security detail for four years, and later served as Chief Fred Lau’s Personal Assistant. Bill was promoted to Police Inspector and displayed unwavering bravery earning one Gold Medal of Valor, four Silver Medals of Valor, and three Bronze Medal of Valor. Upon his retirement, Bill’s legacy of bravery and courage was recognized in a proclamation by Mayor Willie Brown declaring July 8, 2000 to be William Taylor Day in San Francisco. Bill’s colleagues knew him as a “tough Cop” but also very kind, and funny. At home he was gentle and thoughtful. He possessed an equanimity that revealed his strength of character. He was devoted to his wife Laura; a devotion she returned visiting Bill every day during his 3 months in the hospital. Bill was an accomplished photographer and reader and serious student of War, especially World War II. He went to the gym three days a week enjoying the camaraderie and conversation, and the workout. Besides his wife Laura Hankins-Taylor of 31 years, and the family’s adored Golden Retriever Hank, Bill is survived by his daughter Julie Karlonas, his daughter Denise, and son Gregory, ten grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. William Standley Taylor entered the San Francisco Police Department on October 16, 1968. Bill was assigned to Star# 686, and worked the following assignments during his 32-year career: Ingleside Police Station (April 7, 1969), Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF), (August 1, 1971), Personnel Admin (February 8, 1988, Special Investigations (January 4, 1991), Investigation Admin (February 14, 1991, promoted to the rank of Police Inspector on September 2, 1992), Chief’s Office (January 20, 1996). William Standly Taylor retired with a Service Pension on July 7, 2000, AWARDS: Police Officers William S. Taylor, James C. Chase, Dillon Cole, and Bob C. Davis were all awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Wednesday May 23, 1973 at 2306 hours. The Officers responded to a shooting and observed the victim lying on the ground in a pool of blood on the sidewalk. The Officers located the suspect, a female, who pointed he weapon at the Officers and attempted to shoot them, but was subdued and arrested. Officer William S. Taylor and Sergeant David R. Winn were both awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Saturday, January 10, 1976. Williams and Winn responded to an explosive device call on the unit block of Lorenzo Way, a private residence. The device had to be moved immediately. The Officers, knowing fully well the danger involved, hand-carried the device to the radio car and drove it to a safe location where it was discovered that it was in fact a live bomb containing a half stick of dynamite capable of killing anyone in the immediate area. Officer William S. Taylor, with another 60 plus Officers were awarded with Police Commission Commendation for their part in a 23- hour standoff that occurred on October 5th and 6th, 1979. The incident was a major sniper/hostage situation at 1275 Market Street. The San Francisco Police Officers outlasted the suspect who gave way to physical exhaustion leading to his arrest. Officer William S. Taylor with Sergeant Ronald L. Jackson, and Officers Robert J. Deltorre, Richard P. Hesselroth, Robert E. Hoch, Michael A, Mc Eilligott, Mark A. Potter, and Richard D. Holder were each awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Saturday January 20, 1979 at 0120 hours. While performing a S.W.A.T. Team assignment, they courageously assaulted a building occupied by an armed suspect who had barricaded himself in a building at 6th Avenue and Kirkham Street. The suspect had fired several rounds from his location killing one person and injuring several others. The S.W.A.T. Team operation was successful in putting a stop to the sniper and leading to the suspect’s arrest. No further information available on that incident. Officers William S. Taylor, James R. Seim, John L. Sheveland, Richard W. Barber, and Gerald M. Neybert were awarded with Gold Medals of Valor for services rendered on Thursday January 28, 1982, when they responded to One Market Plaza on a complaint of a man with a shotgun, or rifle. The armed suspect had reportedly fired rounds from the 17th and 18th floors. The Officers upon arrival on the 18th floor and observing many victims wounded and dead, spotted the suspect in the rear of an office and aiming his shotgun at a man and a woman seated at their desks. The Officers immediately separated into two groups and drew attention to themselves and ordered the suspect to drop the shotgun. The suspect refused. The Officers fearing that the two people seated at their desks would be added to the list of the wounded or killed, took quick and decisive action. One Officer took aim at the suspect’s mid-section firing one round. The suspect was struck by the round but fired back at the Officers while falling to the floor. The suspect’s round hit a computer module which injured one Officer who was struck with fragments. The Officers returned fire and fatally wounding the suspect. The Officers exhibited high bravery in confronting an armed suspect with a shotgun who have murdered 9 people. Police Officers William S. Taylor, George S. Stasko, and Edgar J. Callejas each received a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday, August 28. 1982, at approximately 0029 hours. Officer Callejas, driving south on Jones Street toward Golden Gate Avenue heard a gunshot. His attention was drawn to a woman with a gun in her hand running west on Golden Gate Avenue. Callejas called for assistance and gave chase after the woman on foot. Callejas ordered the woman to halt. The woman turned and pointed her gun at Officer Callejas. Officer Callejas fearing for his life, fired one shot at the woman who was now a suspect. The suspect turned and continued to flee. The first unit to assist were Officers Taylor and Stasko who drove by the suspect and then stopped to block her escape route. The suspect then scaled a wrought iron gate, and once on the other side, took an offensive stance. The suspect pointed her gun at the Officers and prepared to fire. The Officers, knowing their lives were in danger, fired at the suspect wounding her as she fell to the pavement. The Officers called for medical assistance and retrieved a cocked .45 caliber automatic pistol from her possession and secured the scene. It was later learned that the suspect was on Parole for armed robbery and was also wanted for numerous armed robberies in the state of Oregon. Because these Officers manifested outstanding bravery in bringing a deadly confrontation to a successful conclusion, they were all awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor. Officers William S. Taylor, Thomas R. Argo, Richard W. Barber, Larry P. Barsetti, John R. Chestnut, John P. Fewer, Edmund L. Garcia, James S. Gervasi, Charles J. Keohane, Edward P, O’Toole, Mark A. Potter, George S. Stasko, Michael S. Travis, and Sgt. James B. Hall all received a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Sunday March 4, 1984, at 1030 hours. The named Officers responded to a shooting of a maintenance man at 411 O’Farrell Street, room #512. The first Officers to arrive and ascend to the 5th floor (the report does not name the first Officers) were met by a hail of gunfire coming through the wall and door of room #512. A negotiation team attempted to speak with the suspect who continued firing through the door and out of his window endangering the general public and Officers who were outside securing the perimeter. Officers fired numerous rounds through the door which had no effect on the suspect. The suspect continued to fire from one window. The suspect disappeared from view momentarily then reappeared jumping out of a different window with an automatic pistol in his hand, and firing shots at the Officers. The Officers, at this point, having no other recourse, returned fire and the suspect fell to the landing below his window. The suspect was transported by ambulance to Mission Emergency Hospital where he expired. The incident lasted for three and one-half hours with the suspect firing over 70 rounds. All of the Officers were directly fired upon by the suspect and several rounds ricocheted near them. The Officers exhibited extreme bravery and were awarded with Silver Medals of Valor. Commander Raymond J. Canepa, Lieutenants Richard Holder, and Edward Geeter were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for their part in the incident. Officers William S. Taylor, Richard W. Barber, James L. Batchelor, Nickolaus Borthne, Michael W. Conway, Brian M. D’Arcy, Brett A. Higdon, Thomas Mandelke, and Lieutenant Eward Geeter were all awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on September 10, 1984, at 1330 hours. The Officers responded to 50 7th Street on a call of a hostage situation. The suspect was armed and threatened to shoot anyone who came into the room where the incident was occurring. One voice yelled out to enter the room, the other yelled “stay out”. Suddenly the Office door flew open and the hostage appeared in the doorway. The Officers pulled the hostage to safety and then rushed into the room and confronted the suspect face to face. The suspect’s hands were hidden behind the desk where he was seated. The Officers ordered the suspect to place his hands in view and the suspect complied. His cocked firearm was at his feet with five live rounds. The suspect was then taken into custody. Officers William S. Taylor, Jeremiah Morgan, and Reno Rapagnani were all awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services, rendered on Monday September 16, 1985, at 0030 hours on the Jewish New Year. A suspect had placed a bomb at the Humanist Party Headquarters which exploded damaging the building and sent shrapnel in a radius of 80 feet. At 0830 hours, the suspect placed another explosive device at the front door of the Horowitz Family Education Center where hundreds of people were attending the Rash Hashana service of the Jewish New Year. Both devices were wrapped in anti-Jewish messages. The suspect also had placed a live bomb in front of the home of Rabbi Traub of Congregation Adath Israel which had been previously bombed on Monday July 1, 1985. After evacuating Rabbi Traub and his family, the Officers, with full knowledge that the device was armed and operating, elected to tediously labor over the device in the process of disarming it. At the risk of death or dismemberment, the Officers persevered and successfully disarmed the bomb. Officers William S. Taylor, Reno L. Rapagnani, Edward B. Dullea, and Sergeant Jams B. Hall were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered Thursday December 17, 1987, when Gang Task Force members via a search warrant, were conducting an investigation into the whereabouts of a suspect wanted in the shooting of a Boston Police Officer, and the killing of another. The Officers had located the suspect’s storage locker. During the course of the search, the Officers located two attaché cases which feared could be explosive devices. The Officers then requested assistance from the San Francisco Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit. The EOD Unit responded and examined the suspected explosive devices and ascertained that they were, in fact, explosive devices. With the assistance of Northern Police Station, the area was sealed off and secure. The EOD team also determined that the explosive devices were connected to remote control activators. EOD ordered all radio, television, and microwaves to be turned off in the area. The EOD team, due to the remote-control connection the bombs, had to physically handle the bombs placing themselves in grave danger. The EOD team worked for over 4 hours in attempting to “render safe” the devices. The sophistication of the devices gave the EOD team difficulties. However, at 2012 hours they rendered the first device as “safe”, and the second device was “rendered safe” at 2110 hours. These devices could have taken the lives of many people in the area. Because of the professional ability and diligence of Sgt. Hall, and Officers Taylor, Rapagnani, and Dullea the bombs were rendered safe and no death or injury occurred. They received the Bronze Medal of Valor.
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 Lindo led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for all recent and past members who have passed away. President Lindo scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday August 14, 2025 and adjourned the meeting.
To All Members: Members can access new beneficiary forms if they need to make a change of beneficiary. Use our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org and locate RESOURCES on our face page. Click on Resources and follow the link. Print the form and complete it with all requested information. Contact me at 415 681-3660 or Widowsorphans825@gmail.com or further information on sending the form. Each month we give our thanks to the following people who assist us each month to provide the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Department (S.F.P.D.) Captain and the Defense Administrator for the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; Retired San Francisco Police Department Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email, Rene LaPrevotte; Retired San Franciso Police Department Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the SFPOA Journal Newspaper, Ray Shine; Maggie Wang of Personnel, and Kristine Singh of the San Francisco Police Commission Office.