The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association (WOAA) of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on January 14, 2020. The meeting was held at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street in room #159, in San Francisco, California.
Roll Call: President
Jim O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor (Conference Call),
Trustees Rob Forneris, Ryan Walsh (Conference Call), Lou Barberini, Leroy
Lindo, and Ray Kane, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present.
Vice President Al Luenow was excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to accept the
December 2019 Minutes. Trustee Lou Barberini seconded the motion. The motion
passed without objection.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: Trustee Ray Kane,
in his last activity as our 2019 President, responded to the San Francisco
Police Academy to present our membership to the 267th Recruit Class
on January 5, 2020. Ray signed up 19 of the possible 20 recruits. No
suspensions or reinstatements this month. Our annual dues are due NOW. The dues
remain at $100 per year. Please send your payment to the WOAA, P.O. Box 4247,
San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. If we do not receive a dues payment by a member by
March 1, 2020, the said member will be placed on suspension. If the suspended
member does not send their dues and fines by July 1, 2020, the member will be
dropped from our roll and will need to submit a doctor’s note of sound health,
and the dues and fines for the application of reinstatement. Bills will be
mailed out shortly. We wait for paid notice on all members who have signed up
for automatic payment. We then send out bills to members who pay by check. It
is acceptable to pay your dues prior to receiving a bill in the mail.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the bills and
benefits to be paid. Death benefit claims were filed by the beneficiary of Don
Lando, David Vizcay, Mike Toropovsky, and Rodney Lee. Trustee Ray Kane made a
motion to pay the bill and benefits. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion.
The motion passed without objection.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: We received the sad news of the passing of our
following four members:
Michael Gallegos, age 65: Mike
Gallegos was born in San Francisco, California, and entered the San Francisco
Police Department on August 15, 1977, at the age of 22. Mike’s previous occupation
is listed as an Aux Operator. Mike wore star #1561, and graduated from the
Police Academy on December 10, 1977. Mike worked the following assignments
during his career: Mission Police Station (December 10, 1977), Taraval Police
Station (March 19, 1978), Southern Police Station (October4, 1978), Mission
Police Station (October 4, 1978), Parking & Traffic (June 27, 1983),
Mission Police Station (December 7, 1983), Ingleside Police Station (August 26,
1995), Southern Police Station (February 21, 1998). Mike retired on April 11,
2011 with a service retirement. Awards: Mike was awarded a Police Commission
Commendation for services rendered on Monday July 28, 1978. Mike, with Officers
Paul Maniscalco, Robert Bullard, and Robert Vitali assisted in the apprehension
of two suspects who had committed an armed robbery of the Gibraltar Savings and
Loan Bank at 201 West Portal Avenue. Captain Robert Mattox, and Officers Judith
Hardiman, Jacklyn Jehl, and William Langlois received Silver Medals of Valor
for their part in this arrest. No further information. Mike received a
Meritorious Conduct Award for Investigation for services rendered on Tuesday
September 3, 1985. Mike, with Sergeants Mike McNeill, Randall Radosevich, and
Judith Pursell, and Officers Daniel McDonagh, Dolores “Dolly” Casazza, Raymond
Benson, Patricia Correa, Charles Ellis, David Zanardi, Dennis Callaghan, and
Michael Gonzales all took part in the investigation of a rape of a ten year-old
girl near the Josephine Randall Museum. The above listed Officers worked as a
team collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses in an attempt to identify
the perpetrator. On Wednesday September4, 1985 they were able to locate and
detain a possible suspect. Further investigation revealed that this suspect was
wanted in another county. A Sex Crimes investigator was able to verify by
evidence and a positive identification by the victim, that the detained suspect
was the perpetrator. The diligent and painstaking investigation led to the
arrest of a vicious criminal and sex offender. Mike was awarded with a Police
Commission Commendation for services rendered on March 10, 1991. Mike Gallegos
with Sergeant Larry Ratti, and Officers David Tusssy and Ray Ibay on-viewed a
two-story building on fire at 3359 Army Street. The Officers, without regard
for their own safety, entered the building and escorted several elderly female
occupants out of the building. The Officers entered and exited the burning
building several times as they were battling smoke inhalation but did not stop
their rescue efforts until the S.F. Fire Department arrived.
James Bruce Jones, age 92: James Bruce Jones, known to friends as “Bruce”,
was born on September 13, 1927 in San Francisco, California. James is listed as
a Student prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department. James was a
graduate of Lowell High School in San Francisco and was a veteran of WWII.
James served his country as a member of the Marine Corps. James attended the
University of San Francisco prior to his career in Law Enforcement. James entered the San Francisco Police
Department on August 1, 1949 and wore star #1533. James worked the following
assignments during his career: Park Police Station (August 15, 1949), HDQ
Vehicle Inspection (January 8, 1951), Juvenile Bureau (November 3, 1952),
Investigations Bureau (September 7, 1953), promoted to the rank of Q-35
Inspector on April 3, 1959, Intelligence (April 23, 1975), Inspector’s Bureau
(November 14, 1977). James retired with a service pension on May 28, 1978. With
nearly 30 years of Police service, spent primarily in the Investigations
Bureau, Bruce spent his last 14 years in the Burglary Detail and the
Intelligence Unit with his partner Ken Murphy. The two became infamous in their
day. James was active in the Veteran POA and was a long- time supporter of the
SFPCU. Often called “Boomer”, James was passionate about flying, the S.F.
Giants and 49ers, golf and fishing. He was also an aerobatics judge in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin. Awards: Inspectors Jones and
John Tompkins were awarded a 2nd grade Medal of Valor for services
rendered on January 4, 1957. Jones and Tompkins arrested two armed hold up men
who were in the act of committing an armed robbery of a store. No further
information. Inspectors James B. Jones and Jack Cruickshank, with Officers
Frank Defanti and William Wilson were awarded a 3rd grade Medal of
Valor for services rendered on October 31, 1962. The Inspectors and Officers
observed a man pistol-whipping a woman on the street. The Inspectors and
Officers chased the suspect and engaged in a physical struggle. They disarmed
the suspect, placed him in custody, and seized the suspect’s firearm. No
further information. James is survived by his beloved daughter Melanie, her
mother Constance Callagy, and his cousin, John Murphy.
Rodney Lee, age 57: Rodney C. Lee, was born in San Francisco, California on
January 8, 1961. Rodney entered the San Francisco Police Department on January
4, 1982 and was assigned to star #1428. Rodney worked the following assignments
during his career: Central Police Station (May 2, 1982), Potrero Police Station
(August 15, 1982), Central Police Station (February 9, 1983). Rodney retired on
January 2, 2014 after a 32 year career. Rodney was awarded with a Police
Commission Commendation for services rendered on May 2, 1987. Rodney, with
Officers John Centurioni and Paul De Timofeev apprehended two armed suspects
who had committed an army robbery of the Golden Gate Book Store, earlier that
day at 700 Kearney Street. Centurioni and De Timofeev also received a Police
Commission Commendation. Officers Nick Borthne and Mark Madsen were each
awarded a Bronze Medal of Valor. No further information is documented for this
incident.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: Adjournment:
To All Members: Members can access new Beneficiary Forms on our website at
sfwidowsandorphans.org. Locate the RESOURCES box on our face page. Click on
this box and the link will appear. Completed the form and have it signed by a
Notary, or one of our Board Members. Please send this form and any other
correspondence to WOAA, P.O. Box 4247,
San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted by cell phone at 415 681-3660, and by email at markmac825@comcast.net. Each month we express our thanks and gratitude to the
following people who greatly assist our effort to provide the best service
possible to our members: Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the current
POA Defense Administrator Paul Chignell, Retired San Francisco Police
Lieutenant and the current host of the Gold Country Reaper Website Rene
LaPrevotte, Retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long standing editor
of the POA Journal Ray Shine, David Ng of Personnel, Risa Tom of the San
Francisco Police Department Police Commission Office, and finally to the entire
Traffic Solo Command and Officers who graciously afford us space for our
meetings and files.