The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 1100 hours.
Roll Call: President Leroy Lindo, Vice President Ray Kane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Jim O’Meara, Maureen Leonard, Lou Barberini, Rob Forneris, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Trustee Ryan Walsh and Secretary Mark McDonough were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee James O’Meara made a motion to accept the minutes from last month’s meeting. Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: No new applications, suspensions, or reinstatements.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the monthly bills and beneficiary claims of our recently deceased members. Trustee Jim O’Meara made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Report of Visiting Committee: I attended the funeral service for Bill Sweeny. It was well attended with approximately 200 plus attendees of family, friends, and retired members of the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments The San Francisco Police Department provided Solo Motorcyle escort and a Color Guard for the service. A Bagpiper played at the service in the Celtic tradition which added Cultural respect and dignity for Bill and the Sweeny family.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news of the following members who have recently passed away:
Samuel J. Lacabanne, age 78: Samuel Jean Lacabanne was born on November 1, 1947 in San Francisco, California. Sam was predeceased by his parents Louis and Rita Lacabanne. Sam was raised in the Sunset District of San Francisco and enjoyed a well-rounded upbringing as a member of the Boy Scouts, family trips to Clear Lake, riding Tony the Pony in West Texas, weekends at their Woodside Cabin, and dinners at Joe’s of Westlake on their way home. Sam graduated from Lincoln High School in San Francisco and wrote in the Yearbook that his life ambition was to join the San Francisco Police Department. Prior to his law enforcement career, Sam attended City College of San Francisco where he won the Welterweight Boxing Trophy. After attending City College, Sam served in the United States Merchant Marines making several trips to Viet Nam delivering munitions from Port Chicago. He later sailed with Grace Lines, American President Lines, Matson, and Standard Oil, traveling throughout Asia, Central and South America, and even delivering heating fuel to Arctic communities before Winter set in. He eventually fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a San Francisco Police Officer when he entered the Department on January 23, 1978. Sam was assigned to Star #365, and worked the following assignments during his 27=year career: Mission Police Station to Ingleside Police Station (August 27, 1978), Muni Transit (July 1, 1981), Richmond Police Station (April 20, 1996). Sam retired with a Service Pension on September 29, 2005. AWARDS: Officers Sam Lacabanne, Brian Ogawa, Lewis Fong, Vince Profaca, Annette Carrier, and Edward McDonough were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered from June 15, 1987 through September 4, 1987 after being assigned to the Muni Transit Anti-Pickpocket Task Force. The named Officers were able to gather invaluable information and intelligence on individual suspects and groups working in the Bay Area who were committing pick-pocket crimes on Muni Transit buses and on the BART Railway Transit System. The Officers displayed patience, initiative, and thoroughness during their investigation enabling them to make 11 pick-pocket arrests, 15 other felony arrests, and 44 misdemeanor arrest. Officers Sam Lacabanne, Francisco Mendez, and William Decarsky were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on December 23, 1998. On this date, the Officers responded to an “A” priority assignment at 4740 Balboa Street (apartment complex), where a mentally disturbed woman was attacking another tenant. The Officers arrived, interviewed the victim and learned that she was attacked with a “bent spoon”. They obtained the suspect’s apartment number and responded. The Officers confronted the suspect at her apartment. The suspect was screaming at the Officers while keeping her right hand behind her back concealing her weapon. The Officers closed to within 5 feet of the suspect when she lunged at the Officers with a pair of scissors in her right hand. The Officers moved away from the suspect to avoid being slashed. Officer Mendez used his Department issued Pepper Spray on the suspect which enraged her more. Officer Lacabanne picked up a chair and advanced at the suspect in an attempt to pin her against a wall. Officers Decarsky and Mendez attempted to subdue the suspect. The suspect slashed Officer Mendez’s right jacket sleeve. The three Officers then wrestled the suspect to the floor, disarmed her, and placed her in custody. The suspect’s eyes were flushed with water and she was transported to the SFGH Psychiatric Ward and booked. In retirement, Sam was a gifted storyteller who enjoyed a cocktail at his favorite neighborhood spots- Molloy’s, Fahey’s, Grandma’s Saloon, and the Hearth. Sam was a devoted patriot, a true gentleman, and fiercely proud of his SFPD family.
Herbert E. Lockner, age 89: Herbert E. Lockner was born in York, Maine, on December 25, 1935. Herbert joined the San Francisco Police Department on October 22, 1958 and worked the following assignments during his 28-year career: Northern Police Station (March 9, 1959), Central Police Station (December 7, 1959), Ingleside Police Station (September 26, 1960), Southern Police Station (August 9, 1972), Taraval Police Station (January 21, 1973), P&T DP (July 23, 1980), Taraval Police Station (August 3, 1980). Herbert E. Lockner retired with a Service Pension on November 3, 1986). AWARDS: Officers Herbert Lockner, Thomas McGrath, William Warnke, and Sergeants Vernon Smith and William Weiss all received a Police Commission Commendation for their actions on November 1, 1970. Officers David Seyler and William Wohler received Bronze Medals of Valor. For services rendered, Officers Seyler and Wohler apprehended a deranged suspect who was armed with an axe. The suspect threw furniture and bottles out of his window, striking one of the Officers. Wohler and Seyler sneaked into the back of the suspect’s home while the suspect’s attention was momentarily diverted. Wohler and Seyler were able to surprise the suspect as they grabbed him, disarmed him, and took him into custody. Officers Herbert Lockner and Robert Vitale, with Inspector’s George Matelli and Jim Molinari received Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on Wednesday September 3, 1975 in the apprehension of four armed suspects. One of the suspects fired upon the Officers and escaped but was captured two days later by the same Officers. The results of the arrest cleared a homicide in Sparks, Nevada, an armed robbery in Marin County, and other criminal activities in Baja, California,
William B. Sweeney, age 70: William Brian Sweeney was born on April 1, 1955, in San Francisco, to the late John and Elma Sweeney. The fact that he was born on April Fool’s Day did not escape anyone and it was brought up in jest on occasion. Bill, who somewhere along the line picked up the nickname “Chili Dog”, grew up in the Richmond District. Bill graduated from St. Monica’s Grammar School, Archbishop Riordan High School (Class of 74), and City College of San Francisco. Bill was a San Francisco Police Officer for 30 years. He was the epitome of a hard -working, blue- collar Police Officer who came to work every day and did his job performing at a high level. He was and is highly respected by all who worked with him. Bill entered the San Francisco Police Department in 1978 as a member of the 131st Recruit Class, was assigned to Star #152, and worked the following assignments during his 30-year career: Mission Police Station (October 29, 1978), Northern Police Station (February 4, 1979), Mission Police Station (July 4, 1979), Park Police Station (January 16, 1980), K-E/I (February 11, 1981), Park Police Station ((March 1, 1981), Muni Transit (November 28, 1982), Central Police Station (June 19, 1983), Park Police Station (April 18, 1987), FOB Candlestick (October 1, 1991), Park Police Station (October 10, 1991), FOB (April 11, 1992), Park Police Station (September 28, 1992), Hondas (November 21, 1992), Tactical (June 16. 2006), Investigations (May 12, 2008). Bill retired with a Disability Pension on July 17, 2009. Bill was an avid fan of the San Francisco Forty Niners, San Francisco Giants, and Stanford Football. Bill was a high school football coach at St. Vincents, Washington, and other local schools. Lake Tahoe was one of Bill’s favorite get-away locations. Bill was a great cop, a great guy, and, as only native San Franciscans can relate to, was a great “neighborhood guy” coming from a large Irish family in the Richmond District that gave the City three civil servants in Bill, Jim (retired SFFD), and Tom “Roscoe” Sweeny (retired SFPD Solo Motorcycle Unit).Bill served the city of San Francisco as a Police Officer with several of his Riordan High 74 classmates including Tim Mayer, Mark Mino, Bob McMillan, Bill Goggan, Joe Buono, Dave Herrera, Jeff Williams, Bob Sheehan, John Glishinski, John Glynn, George Cuevas, Joe Finigan, and Jim Zerga. Bill passed away on November 22, 2025. Bill is survived by his spouse Patty Quach, and was a cherished brother to Tom (Bobbie), Virginia, Jim (Mary), and the late John, Cheryl, and Mary.
Report of Special Committee: No special committee at this time.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: Next month, in our New Year of 2026, the WOAA Board will be positioned as follows: President Ray Kane, Vice President Jim O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Maureen Leonard, Lou Barberini, Rob Forneris, Ryan Walsh, and Leroy Lindo, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Lindo led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for our recently deceased members, and for all our fallen members. President Lindo scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday January 13, 2026. President Lindo adjourned the meeting.
To All Members: Members may access our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org for a new beneficiary form if needed. To access the form, click on RESOURCES on our face page and follow the link. Print the form with all required information. Contact Mark McDonough at 415 681-3660, or by email at Markmac825@comcast.net or at Widowsorphans825@gmail.com. Each month we express our gratitude by thanking the following people who assist our efforts to bring our members the best customer service. Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the Defense Administrator for the San Francisco Police Officers Association, Paul Chignell; retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email, Rene LaPrevotte; retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the San Francisco Police Officers Journal, Ray Shine; Maggie Wang of Personnel and Kristine Singh of the San Francisco Police Commission Office.
