The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday July 14, 2026, at 1100 hours.
Roll Call: President Ray Kane, Vice President James O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Maureen Leonard, Lou Barberini, Ryan Walsh, and Leroy Lindo, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Trustee Rob Forneris was excused. Vice President James O’Meara, after 30 plus years of service to the city of San Francisco, has finally called it a career. Jim retired out at the rank of Lieutenant. Congratulations to Jim on his career, and we wish him well for a very long retirement.
Approval of the Minutes: Vice President Jim O’Meara made a motion to accept the minutes from last month’s meeting. Trustee Maureen Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications, Suspensions, and Reinstatements: There are no new applications for membership this month. There are no new suspensions. David J. Bowman was reinstated as we received his back dues and fines. Suspended member Joseph Salazar paid his back dues and fines and has been reinstated as a member in good standing. Due to the suspended members in April who have not paid their dues and fines, the suspended members, by order of President Kane per Article III, Section 4 of our Constitution, will be dropped from our roll at our August meeting.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Taylor read aloud are monthly bills and beneficiary claims for our recently deceased members Joseph Carlin, Dennis Costanzo, and Donald Peters. Michael Brady, Trustee Maureen Leonard made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Vice President Jim O’Meara seconded the motion. The motion passed. Treasurer provided all Board Members with financial statements from including Charles Schwab, the Police Credit Union, and Wells Fargo.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news of our following members who passed away:
Rex Lewin, age 77: Rex Lewin was born on March 6, 1949 in San Francisco to Stan and Emmy Lewin. Rex graduated from Lincoln High School, and from San Jose State University with a degree in History. Rex then joined the Merchant Marines to see the world. Rex spent his time off ships to see other countries and cultures including those in the Far East, India, and South America. Rex’s father was a retired Assistant Chief in the San Francisco Fire Department and Rex followed in his footsteps by entering the San Francisco Police Department on May 11, 1981, as a member of the 160th recruit class. Rex was assigned to Star#781, and worked the following assignments during his 14-year career: Parking and Traffic (September 13, 1981), Police Academy (November 24, 1981), Communications (December 16,1981), Police Academy (April 26, 1982), Parking and Traffic (May 10, 1982), Police Academy (December 3, 1984), Northern Police Station (June 2,1985), Ingleside Police Station (August 26, 1985), Communications (November 16, 1985), Northern Police Station (February 16, 1991). Rex Lewin retired with a Disability Pension on August 14, 1995. AWARDS: Officers Rex Lewin and Mark Macaulay were each awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Friday March 17, 1989, at 1205 hours. Lewin and Macaulay were working in a plainclothes assignment at the Holly Park Housing Projects and observed a known juvenile leaning into the car and make an exchange with the driver. Lewin and Macaulay interrupted a narcotics transaction. The suspect yelled “Cops” and the vehicle sped away. The suspect was a 14-year-old juvenile who then threw several rocks of cocaine to the pavement, and fled to a nearby garbage strewn garage situated in the back of 68 Patton Street. Lewin and Macaulay picked up the rocks of cocaine and pursued the suspect onto the property of 68 Patton Street. The suspect emerged with a loaded rifle and pointed it at the Officers who now realized they were drawn into an ambush. Lewin and Macaulay showed great restraint in not shooting the juvenile, rushed him with Lewin grabbing the rifle barrel and Macaulay grabbing the suspect’s trigger finger. A brief struggle ensued until Lewin and Macaulay were able to disarm the suspect and place him in custody. Due to their tenacity, courage, and professionalism while risking their own lives, they were able to make the arrest with no injuries.
Peter M Libert, age 89: Peter Milford Libert was born on November 17, 1936, in Port Arthur Ontario, Canada. Peter worked as a Bank Clerk prior to a career in Law Enforcement. Peter entered the San Francisco Police Department on January 12, 1961. Peter was assigned to Star#1077 and worked the following assignments during his 30 year career: Mission Police Station (April 17, 1961), Central Police Station (April 16, 1963), Co. K Solo (October 16, 1965), CSTF (January 25, 1976), Co. K Solo (July 1, 1976), Communications (January 19, 1980), Ingleside Police Station (November 5, 1980, promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant), Community Relations (February 28, 1981), Richmond Police Station (March 20, 1985). Peter M. Libert retired on February 19, 1991 with a Service Pension. AWARDS: Officers Peter M. Libert, Burton J. Bishop, Timothy F. Cadigan, and William F. Dailey were each awarded with a 3rd Grade Medal of Valor for services rendered on September 28, 1963. The Officers arrested a suspect who committed an armed robbery/gun of a grocery store. Two juveniles witnessed the robbery and were able to identify the suspect. Officers Libert, Burton, Bishop, and Cadigan placed the suspect in custody. The suspect was in possession of an unloaded gun, and a knife.
Karl Strom, age 87: Karl Ryder Strom was born on January 22, 1939, in Fitchburg, MA. After working as a “photofinisher”, Karl Strom entered the San Francisco Police Department on July 1, 1966, and worked the following assignments during his 33-year career: Park Police Station (September 12, 1966), Northern Police Station (April 20, 1972), Richmond Police Station (May 28, 1972). Karl Ryder Strom retired with a Service Pension on July 9, 1999. AWARDS: Officers Karl R. Strom, Dennis A. Meixner and Stewart A. Flynn each received a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Wednesday March 3, 1971, at 1545 hours. Officers Strom, Meixner, and Flynn arrested a wanted suspect, who was driving a stolen vehicle, and crashed when attempting to escape. Strom, Meixner, and Flynn cornered the suspect after he crashed. The suspect open fired on the Officers who exchanged gunfire and wounded the suspect. The Officers placed the suspect in custody. Officers Karl Strom, Michael J. Griffin, Robert P. O’Sullivan, Stephen R. Wolf, and Michael J. Yalon, with Lieutenant Morris Hazen, Sergeant John E. Lynch and Inspector Sviatoslav G. Yasinitsky each received a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Friday February 14, 1975. In the early afternoon, the listed Officers combined efforts led to the capture and arrest of a suspect and his wife who had burglarized a home in Mill Valley. Initially the suspect was confronted by the Mill Valley Police who engaged in gun battle with the suspect. The suspect leaving his wife behind escaped in his vehicle. The suspect’s wife told the Mill Valley Police that the husband/suspect may be driving to their home in San Francisco. The above listed Officers responded to the address and set up a stake-out which resulted the suspect being taken into custody. Officer Karl R. Strom, with Lieutenant Paul A. Kotta, Sergeants Thomas A. Childs, Julius P. Hiett, John E. Lynch, Albert L. Perry, and Andrew V. Sekara, and Police Officers William P. Decarsky, David L. Dennis, Forrest M. Fulton, Stephen F. Lynch, Leon E. Sorhondo, Michael J. Yalon, and Miles D. Young, and Patrol Special Officer John E. Bain all received a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on April 6, 1975 when they investigated a drug related kidnapping, rape and robbery. Three suspects were located and placed in custody. Karl R. Strom and Stephen R. Wolf were each awarded a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on September 6, 1975, at 2150 hours. Officers Strom and Wolf were summoned to the Black Fox Lounge at 5320 Geary Boulevard on a call of a man with a shotgun. The Officers observed the suspect standing at the end of the bar holding a shotgun in a menacing manner. The Officers ordered the suspect to freeze and to drop the shotgun. The suspect did not comply and raised the shotgun aiming at Officer Strom and Wolf. One Officer shot the suspect and hit him on his side. Strom and Wolf then rushed the suspect and disarmed him and placed him in custody. Officers Karl R. Strom and Stephen R. Wolf were each awarded a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on December 22, 1979, at 1020 hours. Two suspects committed an armed robbery at the physician’s pharmacy at 3490 Sacramento Street and sprayed the premises with several rounds from their firearms. Officers Strom and Wolf pursued the suspects on foot apprehending one during the chase. The second suspect entered a residence creating a possible hostage situation. Strom and Wolf, fearing the safety of other residents made the decision to enter to the building rather than wait for the Specialist Team. Once inside Strom and Wolf located the suspect, disarmed him, and placed him in custody.
Report of Special Committee: Trustee Ryan Walsh continues to research actuarial companies for our organization. The WOAA Board will review Ryan’s reports and will vote to select a company,
Old Business: The WOAA Board will honor Leroy Lindo with a President’s Dinner for his leadership and efforts from 2025.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Kane led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for all our recently passed members, and all WOAA members who have passed away. President Kane adjourned the meeting and scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday August 11, 2026, at 1100 hours.
To All Members: Members who need to make changes for their beneficiary can access forms from our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. Members can click on RESOURCES on our face page and follow the link. Please complete the form in its entirety, and contact me at (415) 681-3660 for further instructions. The WOAA Board expresses our gratitude to the following people who assist us each month in bringing our members the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the Defense Administrator for the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant who reaches out to thousands of active and retired Police via email, Rene LaPrevotte; retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the SFPOA Journal newspaper, Ray Shine; Maggie Wang of Personnel, and Stacy Youngblood of the office San Francisco Police Commissioner.
