The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday June 10, 2025.
Roll Call: President Leroy Lindo, Vice President Ray Kane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Trustees Jim O’Meara, Maureen Leonard, Rob Forneris, Ryan Walsh, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Treasurer Dean Taylor and Trustee Lou Barberini were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Vice President Ray Kane made a motion to accept the minutes from our May 2025 meeting. Trustee Jim O’Meara seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications, Suspensions; and Reinstatements: There were no applications or suspensions. Suspended members Treyvon Hanna and Phil Downs paid their back dues and fines and are reinstated per our 2 motions and vote by the board. Welcome back Treyvon and Phil. All suspended members who have not paid their dues by June 30, 2025 will be dropped from the roll at our July meeting.
Communications and Bills: Trustee Jim O’Meara made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Maureen Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed. Beneficiaries of deceased members Nicholas Bettencourt, John Comiskey, Albert DeBrunn, Marc Higa, and William Simms processed their claims.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA board received the sad news of the passing of our following members:
Larry Gray, age 95: Lawrence A. Gray was born in San Francisco, California on March 9, 1930. Larry is listed as a Letter Carrier (Mailman) prior to his career in Law Enforcement, and also worked as a Golf Caddy. Larry Gray Sr. entered the San Francisco Police Department on August 16, 1954 and was assigned to Star#1647 (later changed to #1304). Larry worked the following assignments during his 32-year career: Richmond Police Station (September 27, 1954), Central Police Station (June 20, 1960), Potrero Police Station (August 6, 1966 promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant and transferred), Central Police Station (July 12, 1967), Richmond Police Station (promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant and transferred on February 7, 1973), Central Police Station (June 5, 1974), Inspector’s Bureau (April 28, 1976), Homicide (May 11, 1981), Juvenile ( promoted to the rank of Police Captain and transferred on January 3. 1982), Central Police Station (February 25, 1985). Larry Gray Sr. retired with a service pension on August 5, 1986. Larry was a third generation San Franciscan who was referred to as “Captain” or ‘Uncle Bud”. Larry was born and raised in San Francisco. He was a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School, City College of San Francisco, and Golden Gate University. Larry served his country as a member of the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Larry played Master Class Bridge. Larry enjoyed Painting and music, travel (Mazatlán and the Russian River), and was employed by the California State Lottery as an Investigator for 17 years after retiring from the San Francisco Police Department. AWARDS: Lieutenant Lawrence A. Gray with Sergeants Salvatore F. Marota, and Grant H. Fahs, Inspectors Barry D. Johnson, Kenneth Murphy, Charles E. Brewster, and Christopher B. Sullivan, and Officers William F. Johnston, Budd A. Armstrong, Dennis A. Meixner, Donald T.. Ross, Michael P. Lawson, and Robert J. Deltorre were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on Tuesday January 15, 1980, at 1130 hours. Lt. Gray with Sgt.’s Marota and Fahs, Inspector’s Johnson, Murphy, Brewster, and Sullivan, and Officers Johnston, Armstrong, Meixner, Ross, Lawson and Deltorre combined their efforts resulting in the arrest of three armed suspects who committed an armed robbery at Broemel’s Pharmacy at 450 Sutter Street. The suspects engaged an off-duty San Francisco Police Officer with an exchange of gunfire. The Officers followed the trail of blood to 679 Pine Street where two of the three suspects were located and arrested as they hid in the basement. The third suspect was located and arrested in the basement of 665 Pine Street hiding underneath a car. Larry was preceded in death by his parents Alonso and Leanore, his loving wife Laura, along with four siblings Peggy, Jim, Pat, and Anita. Larry is survived by his children Larry Jr (retired S.F.P.D.) (Cathy), Richard (Natalie), Annie and Isabelle, his grandchildren Kimberly (Janis), Laura, Catie and Lonnie.
Eddie St. Andre, age 86: Edward Lee St. Andre was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana on January 17, 1938. Eddie served his country as a member of the United States Navy where he was deployed on 2 tours during the Vietnam War. Eddie was aboard Air Craft Carrier U.S.S. Hancock. Eddie is listed as having been a Journeyman Painter prior to his Law Enforcement Career. Eddie, and I have never heard him referred to as Edward or Ed, entered the San Francisco Police Department on October 18, 1968 and was assigned to Star#60. Eddie worked the following assignments during his 30-year career: Mission Police Station (April 7, 1969), Northern Police Station (March 10, 1974), Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF) (March 7, 1977), Photo Lab (October 7, 1995), CSTF Crime Prevention (March 2, 1996). Edward “Eddie” Lee St. Andre retired with a Disability Pension after 30 years of service, on March 20, 1998. AWARDS: Police Officers Edward L. St. Andre, with Officers Joseph Arone, Michael T. Gallagher and Robert P. Salaiz were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on Saturday January 30, 1971 at 0140 hours. The Officers responded to Valencia and McCoppin Streets on a call of a shooting. The Officers advanced toward the suspects who had just shot their victim on a Street Car. The suspects threatened to shoot the Officers, however, Officers St. Andre, Arone, Gallagher, and Salaiz rushed the suspects and overpowered them placing them in custody. Officers Edward L. St. Andre and Robert P. Salaiz were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on June 4, 1971, at 2245 hours. St. Andre and Salaiz observed a wanted felon driving a wanted vehicle. The suspect was armed and attempted to pull his weapon during the traffic stop. The Officers subdued the suspect preventing him from firing his weapon. Officers Edward L. St. Andre, Robert P. Salaiz, and James A. Boles, with Inspector Lawrence Pedrodalasol were awarded with Silver Medals of Valor for services rendered on Saturday September 29th, 1973 at 2130 hours. The Officers and the Inspector confronted a known narcotics suspect who promptly displayed a large handgun and unleashed a barrage of gun-fire at the Officers. The Officers took cover and returned fire at the suspect. The suspect was wounded when he was hit on his arm by the Officers return fire. The suspect fled into neighborhood back yards. The Officers gave chase and captured the suspect 5 houses away from the scene. Officer Edward L. St. Andre, with 6 Sergeants, and an all-star team of 52 Officers were awarded with a Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on Monday and Tuesday, October 5th and 6th 1979. The Officers displayed exemplary courage during a 23- hour duration of a major hostage-sniper incident at 1275 Market Street. Despite the hazardous circumstances, the Officers were able to maintain continuous containment which ultimately resulted in a state of physical exhaustion of the suspect leading to his arrest. Officers Edward L. St. Andre, Michael E. Connors, Robert F. Martinez and Gene Powers were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on Friday November 23, 1979, at 1320 hours. The Officers responded to a call of an armed robbery of the Bank of America at 1995 Union Street. The Officers alertly positioned themselves at the entrance to the Bay Bridge as they believed it to be the escape route. The suspects drove onto the freeway toward the bridge only to be overtaken and stopped by the named Officers who placed the suspects in custody and seized a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and $1,350.00 in stolen bank money. Officer Edward L. St. Andre, with Officers Barbara J. Brewster, and Douglas C. Mitchell were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on Wednesday July 23, 1980, at 14:10 hours. The Officers responded to a strongarm robbery purse-snatch. The suspect grabbed a woman’s purse and knocked her to the ground at 25th avenue and Lincoln Way. The victim sustained a fractured shoulder as the suspect escaped in a waiting vehicle. The Officers observed the suspects in their vehicle at 14:25 hours at Polk and Beach Streets. The Officers apprehended the suspects at gun-point. Officer Edward L. St. Andre, with Officers Charles J. Keohane, Jeremiah W. Morgan, Robert J. Puts, and Steven Silvers, and Assistant Inspector Henry Hunter and Sergeant Timothy Hettrich were awarded with Silver Medals of Valor for services rendered on Thursday August 14, 1980, at 0750 hours. The Officers responded to the unit block of Manchester Street and were advised of the barricaded suspect inside 78 Manchester Street. The Officers received information that the suspect was firing his weapon at Police Officers randomly. The Officers engaged in negotiations with the suspect who refused to surrender. The Officers decided to enter the building under heavy gunfire from the suspect. The Officers located the suspect and again attempted negotiation. The suspect refused to surrender and unleashed a barrage of gunfire leaving the Officers no recourse but to return fire, fatally wounding the suspect. Officer Edward L. St. Andre with Officers Robert L. Aitchison, Brian M. D’Arcy, Leanna M. Dawydiak, Edward B. Dullea, Gregory J. Randolph, Reno L. Rapagnani, Craig A. Woods, and William Langlois, and Sergeants Robert A. McEachern and Charles Brewster were awarded Police Commission Commendations for services rendered from May 15, 1986 through Friday July 11, 1986. The Officers worked a strongarm robbery detail. During this period the Officers made numerous arrests of suspects who were committing violent crimes on weak elderly victims in the Tenderloin. Officers Edward L. St. Andre, Nicholas Borthne, Melvin Cardenas, Brett Higdon, Franklin Lee, Reno Rapagnani, Jerry Salvador, Paul Swiatko, Victor Tsang, Eugene Reed, and Edward Collins, and Sergeants Cornelius Crowly and Jean Donaldson were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Thursday October 29, 1987 at 1548 hours. The Officers responded to 1100 Holloway Street on a hostage situation. The negotiators attempted a surrender and negotiations last 2 hours when the suspect decided to cut one of his female hostages with a knife. A tactical assault was immediately ordered. A tactical vehicle drove to the front of the building while a tactical arrest team entered the rear of the building. The entry was affected so rapidly and efficiently that the suspect was unable to harm another hostage. The suspect was captured as he was attempting to jump from a window. Officers Edward L. St. Andre, Nicholas Borthne, Melvin Cardenas, Matthew Castagnola, Richard Lee, David Seid, and Bernard Sullivan, with Sgt. David Shinn and Lt. Joaquin Santos were awarded with Silver Medals of Valor for services rendered on October 16, 1990. Lt. Santos of Special Operations was notified of an armed man who barricaded himself in a residence on 18th avenue. Santos responded with a Special Operations Team to the Command Post near the residence. The suspect did not allow entry the City Building Inspector and the Police Department for inspection. Earlier the Richmond Station Police Officers with the Building Inspector were denied entry into the building by the suspect who stated he would get his firearm if they forced entry. The suspect would not cooperate with the court order issued. Lt. Santos ordered a perimeter and deployed negotiators who attempted to get cooperation with the suspect, but to no avail. A contingency plan was formulated to enter the building and take custody of the resident/suspect without injury. One more attempt at negotiation failed and the entry team entered the building and were confronted by the suspect who was standing at the top of the staircase and armed with a handgun. The suspect pointed the handgun at the Officers and stated he told them he would use the gun. The Officer ordered the suspect to drop the handgun. The suspect fired twice. The Officers returned fire fatally wounding the suspect. Officer Edward L. St. Andre, with Officers Matthew Castagnola, John Chestnut, Edward Ellestad, Michael Travis, and Sergeant Edgar Callejas were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on January 1, 1992. Sgt. Callejas and the Officers were patrolling north of the Market Street area when they were flagged-down by a frantic citizen who informed them that there was an individual in Boedekker Park (Eddy and Jones Streets) who had a silver metal handgun in his right jacket pocket. The reportee positively identified the armed suspect to the Officers who then surrounded the suspect who had both hands inside his jacket pockets. Sgt. Callejas ordered the man in English and Spanish to take his hands out of his pockets. The suspect began to remove his hands from his jacket pockets when Sgt. Callejas observed the man to have a handgun in his right hand. The Officers drew their weapons on the suspect who then aimed his handgun at the Officers in a sweeping motion. Callejas continued to order the suspect to drop his weapon. After several commands, the suspect dropped his handgun. The Officers during this extended time were justified in using deadly force, but used exemplary restraint and were able to successfully place the suspect in custody and seize the weapon, without causing injury to all. Eddie passed away on June 5, 2025 after a heroic but short battle with Myasthenia Gravis, an auto immune disease. Eddie was preceded in death by one son, and one daughter. Eddie is survived by his wife Carol, his son Michael, and daughter Lynn.
Report of Special Committee: No Special Committee at this time.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Lindo led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for all recent and past members who have passed away. President Lindo scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday July 8, 2025, at 1100 hours.
To All Members: Members can access new beneficiary forms on our website at Widowsandorphans.org. Click on Resources and follow the link. Please print out the form and complete all required information. Contact me at 415 681-3660 or at Widowsorphans825@gmail.com for further processing. Each month we express our gratitude to the following WOAA supporters who assist us in our efforts to bring you the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Department Captain and the Defense Administrator of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; retired San Francisco Police Department Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email that reaches out to thousands of Officers retired and active, Rene LaPrevotte; retired San Francisco Police Department Sergeant and long-standing editor of the SFPOA Journal Newspaper, Ray Shine; Maggie Wong of Personnel, and Kristine Singh of the Police Commission Office.
