The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday August 11, 2026 at 1100 hours.
Roll Call: President Ray Kane, Vice President James O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Trustees Maureen Leonard, Lou Barberini, Rob Forneris, Ryan Walsh, and Leroy Lindo, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Lindo made a motion to accept the minutes from last month’s meeting. Trustee Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: There are no new applications or suspensions. The following unpaid suspended members have been reported to the President and the Board. Per Constitution Article III, Section IV and by a vote of the WOAA Board, are hereby dropped from our roll: Retired Members: James Adams, Michael D. Alexander, Nelson A. Artiga, Kenneth A. Bates, Leo T. Bernstein, Christina Busalacchi, Ramond T. Callo, Daniel R. Casey, Jeffrey K. Chang, Kyle Church, Robert A. Deleon, Michael G. Diskin, Lisa M. Frazer, Dante Giovanelli, Christina Y. Hayes, Jason Hernandez, Robert D. Kellogg, Michael Lau, Curtis Liu, Matthew MacKenzie, Robert T. McMillan Jr., Patrick W. McNichol, Robert Merino, Gretchen Parker, Chrisopher J. Pedrini, Emmett Roebling, Richard E. Seidell, Glenn E. Sherry, Peter Shields, Nathaniel B. Steger, Michelle L. Travinsky, Raj P. Vaswani, Nelson Wong, Patrick M. Zapponi. Active Members: Carlos A. Acosta, Tommie F. Bartley, Cassandra E. Devlin, Nicole L. Manning, Michael G. Morello, Blake A. Peterson, Sonya V. Sarcos, Duong Sim, Marcos A. Zambrano. Dropped former members have a 2-year window to reapply for reinstatement membership. The application must be accompanied by a document from their physician that the dropped former member is in good health. If the application and physician document is accepted by the WOAA Board, the dropped former member must pay all dues and fines.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the monthly bills and beneficiary claims of recently deceased members. Trustee Lindo made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Leonard 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 passed away:
David J. Bowman, age 80: David James Bowman was born in San Francisco, California on March 18, 1946. David worked as a Private Investigator prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department on December 24, 1969. David was assigned to Star #1000, and worked the following assignments during his 15-year career: Park Police Station (February 27, 1970), Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF) (February 28, 1971), Investigations Personal Crimes/ Robbery (September 20, 1978), Parking & Traffic (July 31, 1984). David J. Bowman resigned on January 22, 1985.
Daniel J. May, age 70: Daniel J. May was born in San Francisco, California on April 25, 1956. Dan graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. Prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department Dan worked as a Police Cadet. Dan entered the San Francisco Police Department on August 15, 1977. Dan was assigned to Star #708 and worked the following assignments during his 32-year career: Northern Police Station (December 10, 1977), Southern Police Station (March 19, 1978), Tactical Division (August 15, 1980), Hondas (March 15, 1988), Solo Motorcycle Unit (February 17, 1990). Daniel J. May retired with a Service Pension on September 29, 2009, Awards: Officers Daniel J. May, Randall M. Radosevich, Donald Clyburn, and George Stasko each received a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on February 11, 1981. The Officers responded to a call of a Jumper at 420 Eddy Street at 1740 hours. A man wanting to commit suicide had climbed to the sixth-floor fire escape and said he was going to jump and there was nothing the Officers could do about it. The Officers took action immediately. George Stasko climbed up on the inside of the fire escape while Randy Radosevich climbed the outside of the fire escape. Sasko and Radosevich grabbed the man and he resisted. The struggle caused Radosevich to lose his balance and was hanging only by his arms. Officer Clyburn climbed the fire escape and assisted Radosevich back to safety. All the Officers, who were in danger of falling from six floors to the pavement, used all their strength and were able to control the would-be Jumper and bring him to safety. Officers Daniel J. May, Robert J. Del Torre, and Ronald Roth each were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Monday June 22, 1981 at 2300 hours. The Officers responded to 2280 Cecilia Street to serve a felony arrest warrant on a suspect wanted for a stolen vehicle and fire-bomb arson. The Officers found the suspect laying facedown on a ledge outside of his window and approximately 15 feet from the ground. The Officers pulled up the suspect who then began to resist arrest. The suspect was finally subdued and taken into custody. It was later learned that the suspect was also responsible for the murder of a 16-year-old victim who was the son of a retired Law Enforcement Officer. Officers Daniel J. May, and Robert J. Del Torre were each awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday September 15, 1981 at 2020 hours. May and Del Torre responded to 1888 Lombard Street on a report of a suspect attempting to force his way into a parked vehicle. A 9-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl were inside the vehicle. The suspect was unsuccessful and then attempted to rob the A-1 Motel at 1940 Lombard Street. May and Del Torre arrived and observed the suspect holding a buck knife and daring a Patrol Special Officer to shoot him. The Officers ordered the suspect to drop his knife. The suspect did not comply by raising the knife in a threatening position. May and Del Torre rushed the suspect and grabbed him from different positions and engaged in a life and death struggle. May and Del Torre were able to overpower the suspect, disarm him, and place him custody. Officers Daniel J. May, Barbara J. Brewster, Robert J. Del Torre, and David L. Fontana were each awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on October 24, 1981, when they were patrolling in the area of Turk and Taylor Streets. The Officers found a man severely stabbed and lying in a doorway. The Officers conducted an outstanding investigation which led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of the knife used in the crime. Officers Daniel J. May and Ronald Roth were each awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday April 13, 1982 at 1424 hours. May and Roth received a call from the State Parole Agents to meet with then at Hahn Street and Sunnydale Avenue. The Agents were attempting to take a Parole Violater into custody. The Agents informed May and Roth that they encountered the parole violator earlier who threatened them with a knife. May and Roth approached the residence of the parole violator. A woman answered and resisted the Officers in gaining entry. The Officers gained entry and searched the hallway. Suddenly, the suspect leaped at them from behind the hallway and yelled “kill me or I will kill you first”. A violent struggle ensued. The suspect slabbed Roth’s left arm, severely slashed an Agent’s ear, and kicked the other agent in the back and head. Also, during the struggle, the suspect was able to grab one of the Agents firearms. Officers May and Roth grabbed the suspect and disarmed him during their struggle. May and Roth overpowered the suspect and were able to take him in custody. Officer Roth and the two State Agents had to be transported to Mission Emergency Hospital by ambulance. Officers May and Roth, for their bravery and courage, and risking their own lives, were each awarded with the Silver Medal of Valor. Officers Daniel J. May, Randy M. Radosevich, Lois Kwan-Leong, Kenneth H. Foster, Jeremiah W. Morgan each received a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Wednesday December 22, 1982. The Officers responded to an apartment building fire at 1809 Ellis Street. The Officers arrived and were informed that the building occupants were inside their apartment building. May, Radosevich, Morgan, Kwan-Leong, and Foster, risking their own lives, entered the burning building and assisted the occupants to safety. Officers Edward B. Dullea, Martin G. Dito, William M. Herndon, and Vincent J. Vago each received a Bronze Medal. The report does not provide information on the actions of Officers Dito, Dullea, Herndon, and Vago. Officers Daniel J. May and James S. Gervasi each received a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Monday Apil 15, 1985 when they responded to a call of “shots fired” at 125 6th Street on the fourth floor. The Officers arrived and responded to the fourth floor where the suspect, and ex-con from San Quentin Prison, fired numerous shots into the walls with one shot penetrating another room and nearly missing a blind man’s head. May and Gervasi knocked on the suspect’s door and announced themselves. May and Gervasi did not receive an answer but could hear movement inside the room. May and Gervasi then crashed through the door and immobilized the suspect who was laying on a bed with his firearm underneath him. May and Gervasi disarmed the suspect and placed him in custody. Officer Daniel J. May and James S. Gervasi were each awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for services rendered commencing Saturday November 23, 1985 at 1900 hours and continuing through Sunday November 24, 1985 at 0220 hours. May and Gervasi responded to 2127 Broadway Street on a call of a Burglary that had occurred at the house of elderly occupants. Fortunately, the suspect left his fingerprints at the scene, The suspect was identified through the latent fingerprints. May and Gervasi knew the suspect from arresting him four years prior. May and Gervasi conducted an investigation of the suspect’s whereabouts which led them to the Folsom Street Hotel at 1082 Folsom Street. The Officers set up a perimeter. The Officers caught the suspect dumping of bag of jewelry out of his room window. The suspect was placed in custody and a subsequent search of the room produced an additional two bags of jewelry. Because of their expertise and diligence investigative work, and the recovery of $235,000 worth of Jewelry from the elderly victim, May and Gervasi were awarded with the Meritorious Conduct Award for outstanding investigations. Officer Lorin R. Dubour received a Police Commission Commendation for his efforts in the case. Officer Daniel J. May, with Sgt. Donald Blaine and Robert Hankins, and Officers James Gervasi, Melvin Cardenas, Don Woolard, Reno Rapagnani, and George Stasko were each awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Thursday March 6, 1986. The above Officers and Sergeants were assigned to the Special Weapons Assault Team, or SWAT as it more commonly known. The Team was assisting the District Attorney’s Office in serving a search warrant. At the Team briefing, Officers were informed that the subject of the warrant has several poisonous reptiles including a spitting cobra, the mamba pit viper and other pit vipers. The subject reportedly has poisonous reptiles that there is no known anti-venom. The subject was also reportedly a Neo-Nazi group member and in possession of several machine guns and assorted weapons. The Officers were also advised that information was not available to how and where the snakes were housed and were advised to stay away from dark cool places during the search, and to be careful around drawers, glass cases, paper bags, and cabinets being places that the poisonous snakes could unleash their fury. The Officers arrived and were refused entry. The Officers forced their way in and seized a machine gun and saw a broken glass container with two sidewinder rattle snakes. The Officers continued their search carefully. The search team continued down stairs but were momentarily stopped upon seeing a hand grenade. The Officers defused the grenade and continued their search. The Officers found several open glass containers with several types of reptiles. The Officers secured the house and retreated outside. The Team called the local SPCA who responded and removed all the reptiles. The Officers exhibited outstanding bravery while accomplishing their mission in a very bizarre case. Although it is not mentioned, I would assume the subject was placed under arrest. Officer Daniel J. May, with Sergeant Jean Donaldson, and Officers Melvin Cardenas, Jordan Hom, Dave Seid, George Stasko, and Don Woolard each received a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Monday May 26,1986, at 0140 hours. The Sergeant and Officers all in uniform responded to a shooting at 195 Seventh Street. Upon their arrival with other units, they were advised by a witness that the suspect shot the woman who was lying in a pool of blood in the hallway. The Officers found a bullet hole in the door to Apartment #1. A stocky man opened the door to Apartment #1 and came out. The Officers fearing for their safety drew their service weapons causing the man to run back into his room and close the door. The Officers called a “code 33” and set up a command post. They also requested Command Personnel and SWAT assistance. The Hostage Negotiating team spent 5 hours attempting to have the suspect surrender. The suspect would not comply. At approximately 0600 Tactical Command decided to use tear gas to extricate the suspect thereby avoiding a shootout as morning traffic was starting. Team members were able to have other occupants evacuate the building with some being elderly and crippled. Specialist Officers Seid and Hom, risking their own lives exposed themselves to the suspect when they ran to the suspect’s windows and threw tear gas cannisters into Apartment #1. The suspect was reportedly to have several guns and was very paranoid. The tear gas was unsuccessful which now demanded an Assault Team for entry and the arrest of the suspect. Sgt. Jean Donalsdson and his Officers drew the assignment. The Assault Team had to walk down the hallway to Apartment #1 which was a very dangerous entry point. Officer May broke down the door with a battering ram. The door had been secured by several locks. The Team wearing gas masks entered the room and observed the suspect sitting on his bed with a loaded revolver within reach. Officer Stasko launched a flying tackle on the suspect who was resisting arrest. The other Team members assisted in subduing the suspect while Sgt. Donaldson seized the suspect’s firearm. It was determined the suspect’s revolver was the gun used when shots were fired into the bathroom walls. The courage and bravery and restraint of the Officers in a very dangerous incident earned them a Bronze Medal of Valor. There is no further mention of the woman lying in a pool of blood in the hallway. Officer Daniel J. May, with Sgt. Michael Trueman and Officers James McKeever and Joseph Zamagni were each awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on February 4, 1994. The Officers were providing a funeral escort procession when they received a call of a drive-by shooting. Dispatch gave a description of the vehicle and suspects and stated a witness observed a funeral sticker on the windshield of the described vehicle. A visual inspection of the motorcade by the Solo Motorcycle Unit revealed that the suspect vehicle was in the motorcade procession. This caused a dilemma for the Officers who had to continue the procession and keep mourners safe from gunfire and not knowing who the targets were. The plan was to effect the arrest when the funeral procession came to a stop but prior to any person exiting their vehicles. When the procession stopped, three suspects attempted to flee. Two suspects on foot and one in the vehicle. The Officers responded with a foot chase through the cemetery. All three suspects were caught and placed in custody. Three loaded automatic handguns were seized. The quick actions by the Officers resulted in three arrest and three loaded pistols seized with no injury to anyone.
Rebecca A. Robertson, age 60: Rebecca A. (Minalga) Robertson was born on January 15, 1966. Rebecca entered the San Francisco Police Department on August 19, 1992, and was assigned to Star #536. Rebecca worked the following assignments during her nearly 24-year career: Mission Police Station (January 29, 1993), Taraval Police Station (April 24, 1993), Potrero Police Station (February 12, 1994, Potrero Police Station/ FOB Candlestick (April 8, 1995), Taraval Police Station (January 17, 1998), Richmond Police Station (January 19, 2000), Airport (October 11, 2000). Rebecca A. Robertson retired on January 20, 2016. Rebecca tragically lost her husband, retired San Francisco Police Officer John Mark Robertson on December 22, 2025.
Report of Special Committee: Trustee Ryan Walsh has researched Actuarial Companies and submitted three for a vote by the Board. The Board voted to hire Milliman to conduct an actuarial study to ensure that the Widows and Orphans will be solvent for their membership.
Old Business: No report this month
New Business: Our investment firm KCM Schwab responded to our meeting for a second time to explain their business practice of investing WOAA assets. One of our Trustees questioned their way of doing business. KCM explained their business in accordance with their relationship with us, and our positive investment growth of our organization over the past years. Secretary McDonough made a motion for the WOAA Board to consider hiring a new investment firm and/or auditors. There was no second motion or comments.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Kane led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for all our recent and for passed members. President Kane adjourned the meeting and scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday September 8, 2026, at 1100 hours.
To All Members: Each month we express our gratitude to the following people who Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA) Defense Administrator, Paul Chignell; Retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant who reaches out to over three thousand active and retired officers by 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 Police Commission Office.
