The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street, room #150, in San Francisco, California. The meeting commenced at 1230 hours.
Roll Call: President
Ray Kane, Vice President Jim O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean
Taylor, Trustees Al Luenow, Rob Forneris, Ryan Walsh, Lou Barberini, and Leroy
Lindo, and our Bookeeper Sally Foster were present.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Al Lunenow made a motion to accept the
minutes from our February 2019 meeting. Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the
motion. The motion passed without objection.
Receiving Applications, Suspensions and Reinstatements: There were no new
applications or suspensions. President Ray Kane will respond to the San
Francisco Regional Police Academy on April 17, 2019 to present our membership
to the 263rd Recruit Class. Certified letters of Separation were
mailed to members who did not pay their 2018 dues. We sincerely hope our newly
separated members will return, and reapply to the WOAA. Dropped members can
reapply by paying their back dues and fines accompanied with a document from
their physician stating that the applicant is in good health. Trustee Ryan
Walsh made a motion to reinstate the following separated members who have paid
their dues and fines and were diagnosed to be in good health by their
physician: William Arietta, Timothy
Brophy Jr., Justin Clayton, Jassen Dongon, Kostantyn Ivanov, Ryan Jensen,
Bianca Padilla, and Anthony Tallerico,
Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed without objection
and hereby reinstate the above listed applicants as members in good standing in
the WOAA.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the WOAA bills,
and the beneficiary claims by the designated Beneficiary of passed members
Kevin Conroy and Norman McHugh. Trustee Rob Forneris made a motion to pay the
bills and the beneficiary claims. Vice President Jim O’Meara seconded the
motion. The motion passed without objection.
2019 DUES: As of today’s meeting, we
have 172 retired members, and 15 active members who HAVE NOT PAID THEIR 2019 DUES. Any member who has not paid their dues
by March 31, 2019 will by immediately suspended by the President.
Automatic Payments: If you signed up for SFPCU Automatic Payment for dues,
you do NOT need to sign up again. Please do NOT send dues by Pay Pal if you
previously signed up at the SFPCU. This will cause a double payment. Please
email or call me regarding this situation if you have any questions.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: We received the sad news of the passing of three of our
members:
Richard Arambula, age 73: Richard
Allen Arambula was born on May 26, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan. Rich was listed
as a Salesman prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department. Rich
joined the S.F.P.D. on February 16, 1968, wore star #1917, and worked the
following assignments in a career that was shortened by an on duty injury:
Southern Police Station (June 24, 1968), City Prison (July 19, 1970), Southern
Police Station (August 1, 1971), Narcotics (April 16, 1972), BCI (August 9,
1972), Mission Police Station (June 1, 1975), Parking and Traffic (February 4,
1981), Background Investigations (April 27, 1981). Rich retired on October 11,
1982 with a Disability Pension. During his career, Rich was awarded a Police
Commission Commendation, a Silver Medal of Valor, a Bronze Medal of Valor, and
a Meritorious Conduct Award for exemplary investigation. For Services rendered
on Wednesday September 12, 1979, Rich and his partners John Macauley, Jim
Balovich, and Al Mould apprehended three armed and dangerous suspects after
interrupting them in the process of burglarizing the premises at 915 Dolores
Street. The Officers recovered all the property and confiscated two handguns
that were discarded by the suspects upon the Officers arrival. Rich and his
partners were awarded a Police Commission Commendation for their performance. For
services rendered on Wednesday February 6, 1980, Rich and his partner Dennis
Bianchi, and Parking Controller Mary White responded to 2360 Mission Street and
observed the building to be engulfed in flames and smoke. Without hesitation,
and after establishing a response from the S.F. Fire Department, Rich, Dennis,
and Mary entered the building and evacuated the elderly residents. They
repeatedly entered the building exposing themselves to the hazards of the toxic
smoke and flames. Their heroic effort resulted in saving the lives of twenty
elderly residents all of whom were in excess of 60 years of age. Rich, Dennis
and Mary were awarded the Silver Medal of Valor. For services rendered on
Tuesday March 18, 1980, at approximately 1045 hours, Rich and his partner Joe
Williams, received a report of a robbery at a Bank at 3060 16th
Street. Rich and Joe responded and searched the area. They located a man who
matched the suspect description. The suspect observed the Officers approaching
him and fled into a parking lot. The suspect was hiding behind cars. The
Officers split up a set up positions of advantage. The Officers ordered the
suspect to put up his hands and surrender. The suspect complied and was taken
into custody. The suspect was armed with a revolver and further investigation
revealed the suspect to have an outstanding criminal warrant arrest warrant in
the amount of $100,000 for a series of bank robberies in the state of Florida.
For services rendered on Wednesday June 24, 1980, Rich and Officers Joseph
Kirley, James Ludlow, Hermann Chu, Forrest Fulton, and Joe E. Williams were
informed of a vicious rape that had just occurred in Dolores Park. The Officers
immediately responded and immediately conducted an organized and systematic
search and investigation. The Officers developed information on a possible suspect
in amongst the group of 1300, Students in the park. They subsequently convinced
the parents of the suspect to surrender their son. The Officers were awarded
with a Meritorious Conduct Award.
Michael L. Byrne, age 75: Michael L. Byrne was born in San Francisco June
5, 1943 and was listed as a Student prior to entering the San Francisco Police
Department. Mike joined the S.F.P.D. on June 16, 1965, wore star #479, and
worked the following assignments during his 33 year career: Taraval Police
Station (September 5, 1965), Park Police Station (November 1, 1966), Southern
Police Station (December 1, 1967), Juvenile Bureau (January 2, 1969 promoted to
assistant Police Inspector on December 16, 1969), Crime Lab (June 18, 1975),
Homicide Detail (January 22, 1979). Mike retired as an Inspector, with a
service pension on September 7, 1998. Mike was awarded a 3rd grade
Meritorious Medal of Valor for services rendered on April 11, 1968. Mike and
Officers Michael Moysard, Frank McCarthy, and Thomas McGrath apprehended an
escapee from the Sheriff’s Office. The suspect attacked the Officers with a
hatchet. The Officers were able to overpower the suspect and disarm him. Mike
was an avid boating enthusiast, loved to fish the McCloud Reservoir and nearby
streams. Mike was a member of the Bayview Boat Club, the Moose and Elks Lodges,
and the Order of E. Clampus Vitus. Mike was a graduate of St. Ignatius High
School and the University of San Francisco.
Donald Wilson, age 84: Donald M. Wilson Jr. was born on May 30. 1932 in San
Francisco, California. Don graduated from Balboa High School and joined the
United States Marine Corps. Don was stationed at Camp Pendleton during the
Korean War. Don earned a degree from City College of San Francisco. Don was
listed as a Student prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department. Don
joined the S.F.P.D. on April 16, 1956,
wore star #1837 and worked the following assignments during his 7 year Law
Enforcement Career: Southern Police Station (July 9, 1956, Potrero Police
Station (January 2, 1957), Mission Police Station (October 16, 1957), Traffic
Company Solos (March 9, 1959). Don decided to take a different path to his
service pension when he transferred from the S.F.P.D. to the San Francisco Fire
Department on February 1, 1963. Don was awarded a 3rd Grade Medal of
Valor for services rendered on June 18, 1962. Don, and Officers Victor
Giannini, James Hession, Mario Tovani Jr., and Sgt. Claude Avedano responded to
a call of an armed suspect with a firearm. The Officers had to disarm the suspect
of his rifle. The suspect had already wounded a woman who lived on the floor
below in the hotel. The Officers had to break down the suspect’s door, and
overpower him to disarm him. Don ran a painting business throughout his
careers. After retirement from the S.F.F.D. Don was elected to the Board of the
Rincon Valley Fire Department near his home in Santa Rosa. Don is survived by
his loving wife Barbara of 60 years. He was the loving father of his three
children Tracey (Greg) Eagleton, Kelley (Liam) Chawke, and Dean Wilson.
Report of Special Committee: Bookkeeper Sally Foster gave an update on our
Constitution and By-Law rewrite vote mail-out. Sally has composed a cover
letter and is currently in Liaison with the Post Office on a Ballot-Envelope.
The proposed changes of our Constitution Amendments should be mailed to the
membership prior to our next meeting. Please take the time to read the proposal
and to vote. Return your ballot by mail. Votes will be tallied by an assigned
committee and the results will be published in this column and on our website.
Unfinished Business: Past President (2018) and now Trustee Leroy Lindo
responded to Sigmund Stern Grove in February and addressed the SFPD Retirement
Seminar. Leroy informed the class that dues will stop being paid by CCSF
Payroll upon retirement. Leroy advised the class to prepare a payment plan for
post-retirement. Leroy also advised members to check on their designated
beneficiary(s) and to contact me in the event of a needed change.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Kane led our Board in a moment of silence for our
recently passed members, and for all passed members of the WOAA. Our next
meeting will be held on April 9, 2019 at 850 Bryant St, room #150, in San
Francisco, California. The meeting will commence at 1230 hours.
To All Members: Beneficiary Forms are available on our website at
sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on the Resources box on our face page. Click on
the link and print out the form. Please complete the form with all your contact
information and your choice of Beneficiary. New forms require a signature from
a Notary or a WOAA Board Member. Mail your new form to
WOAA, P.O. BOX 4247, SAN RAFAEL, CA
94913-4247. I can be contacted by phone at 415 681–3660 or by email
at markmac825@comcast.net. We
wish to express our monthly gratitude to the following people who volunteer
their help for our cause: Retired S.F.P.D. Captain and the current Defense
Administrator of the P.O.A., Paul Chignell, retired S.F.P.D. Lieutenant Rene
LaPrevotte who is the host of the Gold Country Reaper Website, retired Sergeant
and the long standing editor of the POA Journal, Ray Shine, retired Sergeant
Rachael Kilshaw and Risa Tom of the Police Commission Office, David Ng of
Personnel, and to the men and women of the Traffic Command Unit who afford us
space for our meetings.