The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting for December 2021 via Zoom technology. The meeting commenced at 1200 hours. We conducted the meeting on Zoom technology.
Roll Call: President Al Luenow, Vice President Rob Forneris, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Lou Barberini, Ryan Walsh, Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane and Jim O’Meara, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ryan Walsh made a motion to accept the November 2021 minutes. Trustee Jim O’Meara seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: There were no new applications, suspensions or reinstatements.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the monthly bills. Treasurer Taylor announced that our annual audit has been completed, and that we received beneficiary claims for the our recently passed members John Talley, Thomas Tyrrell, and Darol Smith. Trustee Leroy Lindo made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Lou Barberini 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 recently passed away:
Innocente Cisneros, age 91: Innocente “Vince” Cisneros was born in New Mexico on August 9, Vince entered the San Francisco Police Department on April 16, 1956 and was assigned to
Star #623. Vince worked the following assignments during his 30- year career: Southern Police Station (July 9, 1956), Park Police Station January 2, 1957), Potrero Police Station (October`6, 1957), Northern Police Station (March 17, 1958), Community Relations (January 10, 1966), Juvenile Detail (January 2, 1959, promoted to the rank of Asst. Inspector on July 16, 1969), Inspector’s Bureau (October 19, 1977). Innocente worked in the Robbery Detail. He retired with a service pension on December 30, 1985. AWARDS: Innocente Cisneros and his partner Eugene Murphy were awarded 2nd Grade Medals of Valor for services rendered on December 30, 1961. Cisneros and Murphy responded to a call of an armed robbery. They arrived near the scene and recognized the suspect from the description that was broadcasted by Dispatch. The Officers fired a shot over the head of the suspect to prevent him from continuing his attempt to escape. The suspect continued to flee and Cisneros and Murphy were able to overtake him and place the robber in custody. The suspect had discarded his firearm which was located and seized by the Officers subsequent to the arrest. Cisneros and Murphy were awarded with 3rd Grade Medals of Valor for services rendered on January 13, 1962. Cisneros and Murphy arrested four suspects who had attacked another man and shot at him with a rifle. The Officers seized a loaded rifle and shotgun, and a push-button knife. Officers Innocente Cisneros, Eugene Murphy, Ronzo Panelli, and Raymond Skow were awarded 3rd Grade Medals of Valor for services rendered on October 23, 1964. The Officers arrested a suspect for 2 armed robberies. The suspect also stole a car owned by one of the victims. The Officers observed the suspect sitting in the stolen automobile in a parking lot. The suspect was taken into custody at gunpoint. Police Inspector’s Innocente Cisneros, Larry Pasero, and Paul Schneider were awarded with a Meritorious Conduct Award for an outstanding investigation. The Inspector’s conducted an excellent investigation in a series of restaurant robberies that began on April 1, 1980. The conclusion of the investigation led to the arrests of 3 suspects. The Inspectors cleared 12 robberies after conducting a painstaking investigation and research, weighing all clues. The arrest was made on April 22, 1980. Inspectors Innocente Cisneros and John Wydler were awarded with Meritorious Conduct Awards for an outstanding investigation conducted from January 1981 through March 11, 1981. Cisneros and Wydler conducted a painstaking and diligent investigation of a serious felony case. The Inspectors spoke to several victims and witnesses and sifted through numerous police reports to create a profile of the suspect and his method of operation. The information was disseminated and a subsequent stakeout at 445 Sutter Street resulted an observation of the suspect. The suspect fled and after a chase and a shooting, the suspect was taken into custody. Inspector’s Innocente Cisneros and John Wydler were awarded with Meritorious Conduct Awards for outstanding investigation for services rendered from September 6, 1983 through November 8, 1983. The Inspectors conducted an outstanding investigation of alleged armed robberies that led them to the suspects. Four suspects were arrested for the thefts. One of the suspects claimed to be a victim of a $47.000 robbery at the Pier 39 parking garage. Cisneros and Wydler interviewed all the employees and determined that the alleged victim was a suspect with accomplices. The suspect agreed to participate in a polygraph exam which he failed. The Inspectors made subsequent arrests of the suspects for the theft of the bogus robbery. Inspectors Innocente Cisneros, John Nutting, and Paul Ryan, with Officers John Payne and Peter Siragusa were awarded with Meritorious Conduct Awards for an outstanding investigation into a series of armed robberies. The investigation was conducted over a period on one year resulting with the arrests of 2 male suspects and 2 female suspects. The Inspectors and the Officers painstakingly sifted through numerous reports, bits and pieces of information, clothing worn in the robberies, methods of operation, and vehicles used in the crimes. The first breakthrough occurred when one of the female suspects was spotted wearing clothing that was described in the crimes. Information revealed by the female suspect led to the identification of one of the male suspects which matched the latent fingerprints lifted from one of the robberies. The remaining suspects continued their robbery crime spree and fingerprints from the robbery scenes led to the suspects identification. The arrest of the second female suspect in the Northern District produced the identification of the remaining suspects. Acting on reliable information the Inspectors and Officers responded to 2518 35th Avenue #32 in Oakland, California. With the assistance of the Oakland Police Detectives, the suspects were ordered to vacate the premises. It was necessary to obtain the assistance of a trained Police dog to flush out the suspects who were then taken into custody. Inspectors Cisneros, Ryan, and Nutting, and Officers Payne and Siragusa were awarded the Meritorious Conduct Award.
Ron Sheppard, age: Ron Sheppard was born in Hermosa Beach, California on May 4, 1944. Ron grew up in Missouri with his mother Irene Maples, and his two brothers. He moved to Sacramento in his teen years, and then moved to San Francisco where he worked for Pacific Telephone. During his time at Pacific Telephone Ron met his future wife Patricia Vinal and they married on June 28, 2966. Ron was called for government service and was soon a member of the United States Navy, and sent to the war in Vietnam. Ron returned safely from the Vietnam War and his daughter Cynthia was born on June 3, 1970. Their son Brian arrived on October 24, 1973. Ron coached many different sports during his children’s lives including Cynthia in soccer and Brian in baseball, and late followed his football career through College. Ron entered the San Francisco Police Department on June 16, 1969 and was assigned to Star# 1309 and worked the following assignment during his 10-year career: Mission Police Station. Ron retired on a Disability Pension on July 17, 1979. After retiring, Ron worked for several years as a Fraud investigator for Wells Fargo Bank. His daughter married Ray Spencer and brought two grandsons into the family, Isaac and Lucas. Ron attended the sports games of his grandchildren. Brian and his longtime love Angie also lived nearby, and there were many great pool parties and family events. Ron and Patricia loved to travel and continued to do so all over the world. They were accompanied on many trips by Ron’s first partner Nick Rubino and his wife Dee Dee. Ron fell in love with skiing and hit the slopes during his golden years. Ron was an avid 49er fan and season ticket holder for many years. Ron was married to Patricia for 55 years and enjoyed spending time with family and friends in their home in the Martinez Hills. Ron never forgot to include his two dogs that he “policed” regularly. Ron was healthy to the end. Ron and Patricia went out on their daily walk on November 16, 2021. When they returned, Ron sat down and just drifted away. Ron was loved dearly and will be missed forever. Awards: Ron was awarded with a 3rd Grade Medal of Valor for services rendered on Sunday August 17, 1969. Ron, with Officers Arthur Fobbs and George Matell observed smoke and flames coming from a residence at 3478 20th Street. The Officers notified Headquarters and entered the residence alerting the occupants of the pending disaster. The Officers risked their lives to save the lives of the building occupants, suffering smoke inhalation and singed eyebrows. Ron was awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday September 28, 1971. Ron and his partner Nicholas Rubino, and Officer Thomas Gerrard apprehended a Robbery suspect who was in the act of holding up a Service Station. The Officers surprised the suspect who turned and began firing his handgun at the Officers. The suspect fled on foot with the Officers in hot pursuit through alleys, over fences, and finally to the rear of an Appliance Storage area where he (the suspect) was subsequently wounded in an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was taken into custody. Officers David Rodriguez and Abel Martinez were awarded Bronze Medals of Valor for their actions in this incident. Ron Sheppard and his partner Nicholas Rubino were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Friday November 12, 1971 at 1636 hours. Sheppard and Rubino, with Inspectors Robert Kane and Eugene Murphy engaged in a physical struggle with an armed suspect who threatened to shoot them with a .22 Pellet Gun. The Officers were able to distract the suspect and then rush him. The Officers disarmed and arrested the suspect. Ron and his partner Nicholas Rubino were awarded with another Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Saturday November 23, 1971 (2nd award in 2 successive days). Sheppard and Rubio apprehended and disarmed an armed assailant who had fired his .30-30 caliber rifle at his wife and another man. Ron Sheppard and his partner Nicholas Rubino were awarded with their third Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Monday July 16, 1973 for apprehending a Burglar who had just committed the crime and was attempting to drive away with the stolen items in his Econoline Van. Sheppard and Rubino were awarded with their fourth Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Saturday September 9, 1973. Sheppard and Rubino, after investigation three separate and unrelated Burglary cases, arrested 6 suspects. Two for Burglary, and 4 for Narcotics successfully bringing all three cases to a conclusion. Sheppard and Rubino were awarded with their fifth Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Wednesday April 24, 1974 at 1820 hours. Sheppard and Rubino, while assigned to the plainclothes detail, observed a known felon who was casing a restaurant at 3071 16th Street. Rubino was able to subdue the suspect and place him in custody. Ron Sheppard, with Officers Bob C. Davis, and Michael Conway were awarded Silver Medals of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday November 2, 1976. The Officers, on routine patrol at 0145 hours, observed a naked man jump from a second story window at 1542 California Street. They further observed several people running from the building in night clothing yelling “fire”. The Officers subsequently observed the flames inside the building and responded to the front door to gain entry. The heat and flames intensity drove them back. The Officers climbed a fire escape and jumped through the flames in a doorway and gained entry. The Officers located 8 trapped occupants and carried them out to the fire escape. The Officers then observed a man creeping along a ledge attempting to make it to the fire escape. The Officers made a chain-of-hands and extended far enough to make contact with the man and pulled him to safety. The Officers displayed outstanding bravery in fighting the flames and heat to save many building occupants from death or serious injury.
Report of Special Committee: No Special Committee at this time.
Old Business: The WOAA Board held Ray Kane’s belated President’s Dinner on Tuesday December 14, 2021, at Original Joe’s Restaurant in the North Beach district of San Francisco. Ray provided aggressive leadership on our transition issues during his Presidency.
New Business: On November 13, 2021 Vice President Rob Forneris after learning Al Luenow would step down from our Board after 2021, and would only stay on as a Trustee as an emergency measure, nominated Maureen Leonard (Active San Francisco Police Sergeant) to fill the vacant Trustee position. I supported the nomination and a vote was taken on November 15, 2021. The vote was unanimous for Maureen Leonard as our new 2022 Trustee. Congratulations Maureen! The 2022 WOAA Board vote was completed last month. In 2022 the WOAA Board is as follows: President Rob Forneris, Vice President Lou Barberini, Secretary Mark J. McDonough, Trustees Ryan Walsh, Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane, Jim O’Meara, and Maureen Leonard., and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster. We would like to thank and congratulate outgoing 2- time President Al Luenow. Al opted to leave the organization after serving for 15 years. His leadership was essential at the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Al possesses a calm measured confident style of leadership that creates successful communication and decision making. It was my pleasure to serve with, and for Al. We wish he and Edie all the best in their new home. We will hopefully see Al at our Annual President’s Dinner in 2022. The Dinner has been suspended for quite a few years due to a sub-par economy followed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are hoping to start up the President’s Dinner in 2022.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Al Luenow, in his final moment as a WOAA Board Member, after serving for 15 years, led our board in a moment of silence for our recent and past fallen members. President Luenow scheduled our next meeting for January 11, 2022 at 1200 hours, via Zoom technology, or an in- person meeting at the SFPOA. Farewell to Al, and thank you again.
To All Members: Members can obtain a new WOAA beneficiary form by accessing our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on the Resources box on our face page. Print out the beneficiary form, complete it with all your necessary information, and send it to WOAA, P.O. BOX 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted at 415 681-3660. We offer our monthly thanks and gratitude to the following people who assist us in providing the best customer service for our membership: Retired San Francisco Police Department Captain, and the current Defense Administrator for the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; Retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email (which reaches out to thousands of retired and active officers), Rene LaPrevotte, Retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the SFPOA Journal, Ray Shine; Risa Tom of the San Francisco Police Commissioners office, David Ng of the San Francisco Police Department’s Personnel Office, and to SFPOA President Tony Montoya who has allowed us to use the SFPOA building for quarterly meetings.