The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday September 9, 2025. At 1100 hours.
Roll Call: President Leroy Lindo, Vice President Ray Kane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, and Trustees Jim O’Meara, Maureen Leonard, Lou Barberini and Ryan Walsh were present. Administrative Assistant Sally Foster and Trustee Rob Forneris were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Vice President Ray Kane made a motion to accept last month’s minutes. Secretary Mark McDonough seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: Ray Kane presented the WOAA membership to Academy Class #285. Ray obtained 29 out of 31 signatures for membership. One other recruit verbally agreed to send his forms. This would be a 96% success rate. Great job Ray. Trustee Lou Barberini made a motion to accept the new signees as temporary members of the WOAA. Secretary Mark McDonough seconded the motion. The motion passed. The new signees will be permanent members once they pass their probation phase. Dropped members: dropped members must meet all our requirements for reapplication. Dropped members must pay their dues and fees, and submit a letter from their physician that they are in good health. These requirements are clearly stated in our notification letter to dropped members. We often receive the dues from the dropped members without late fees and a Doctor’s letter. We will not reinstate any member who cannot meet the requirements.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Taylor read aloud our monthly bills. Our audit was completed with a bill this month for $3600, with another bill of $180 for Tiret and Company. Taylor read aloud the claims for death benefits to recently deceased members Joseph Coggan, Daniel J. Mahoney, Patrick O’Shea, Richard Silva, and Eddie St. Andre. Trustee Maureen Leonard made a motion to pay the bills and claims. Trustee Jim O’Meara 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 member who has passed away:
John T. Wallace, age 85: John Theodre Wallace entered the San Francisco Police Department on March 16, 1970. John was assigned to Star# 1104. John worked the following assignments during his career: Mission Police Station (July 19, 1970), Ingleside Police Station (June 17, 1973). John T. Wallace retired on September 4, 1978 with a Disability Pension. AWARDS: Officers John T. Wallace and Robert Salaiz were each awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Saturday July 25, 1970, at 0331 hours. Wallace and Banas alertly observed two suspects who were seated inside a stolen vehicle. The Officers attempted a vehicle stop. The suspects then sped away attempting an escape. Wallace and Banas gave chase until the suspect vehicle collided with another car in an intersection. The vehicles burst in flames. Officers Wallace and Salaiz, risking their own lives, broke the windows in both vehicles and pulled all the occupants to safety. The two suspects were placed under arrest. Officers John T. Wallace and William J. Banas were each awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday April 6, 1976 at 2240 hours. Wallace and Banas received a radio broadcast of an armed robbery/kidnapping that had just occurred in the Ingleside District. Officers Wallace and Banas, using outstanding foresight, responded to an area of the District that they believed the suspects might travel. During their response, Wallace and Banas received another broadcast from Dispatch that the suspect released two of the three victims, and was armed with a 6-inch revolver. Wallace and Banas, fully cognizant of the risk of life to the victim and themselves, made a felony vehicle stop at Sunnydale and Hahn Streets. Wallace and Banas approached the vehicle and grabbed the suspect and attempted to pull him out of the vehicle. The suspect then attempted to pull his firearm from his waistband. The Officers struggled with the suspect who was 6’2, 240 pounds. Wallace and Banas were able to disarm and arrest the suspect.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: Vice President Ray Kane tabled the issue of whether to sign-up recruit classes in the beginning of the Academy or at the end. We currently sign-up recruits toward the end of the Academy. The WOAA has no written directive as to when we sign up recruits, however, we experienced recruits signing up for the WOAA only to drop out of the Class prior to graduation. We will revisit this issue next month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Lindo thanked our Board for all their good work, and led our Board in a moment of silence for all our fallen members. President Lindo scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday October 14, 2025 at 1100 hours.
To All Members: Members may obtain a new beneficiary form through our website at sfwidowsandorphanss.org. The form must be completed with all requested information. The completed form requires a signature from a notary or a signature from one of our Board Members (see Roll Call). Each month, we acknowledge the following people who assist our efforts to bring our members the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the Defense Administrator of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper, 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.
