The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco
Police Department held their monthly meeting for October of 2019. The meeting
was held at the Traffic Bureau inside the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street,
room #150 in San Francisco, California. The meeting commenced at 1230 hours.Tuesday October 8, 2019
Roll Call: President
Ray Kane, Vice President Jim O’Meara, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean
Taylor, Trustees Al Luenow, Rob Forneris, Lou Barberini, Ryan Walsh, and Leroy
Lindo, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. President Kane
opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Al Luenow made a motion to accept the
minutes from our September 2019 meeting. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the
motion. The motion passed without objection.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and
Reinstatements: There were no new applications for membership, and no suspensions.
Treasurer Taylor announced Bill Griffin for reinstatement after receiving
Bill’s dues and fines. Vice President Jim O’Meara made a motion to reinstate
Bill Griffin. Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed
without objection. Welcome back Bill Griffin!
Communications and Bills: Treasurer
Dean Taylor read aloud our standard monthly bills (telephone, website, etc),
our yearly audit bill of $15,000 (significantly lower than the former Auditor
bill), and one paid beneficiary for the passing of Jeffrey Brogan. Vice
President Jim O’Meara made a motion to pay the monthly bills and the paid
beneficiary claims. Rob Forneris
seconded the motion. The motion passed without objection
Report of Visiting Committee: Trustee Ryan Walsh reported his attendance at
the memorial service for fallen member David Vizcay. Ryan reported that the
service was held at St. Ignatius Church in Antioch, California. Ryan stated
that the service was very well attended with San Francisco Police Department
Uniform Personnel and Various Command Staff Personnel including Chief William
Scott, Assistant Chief Michael Redmond, Deputy Chiefs Greg McEachern, Gregory
Yee and Commander Teresa Ewins.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA received the sad news of the following members
who have recently passed:
Richard Janese, 68: Janese was born on
January 18, 1951 in Nuremberg, Germany. He was a veteran of the United States
Army, and a graduate of San Francisco State University, class of 1976. He was
also a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He is preceded in
death by his mother Louise Martin Janese, sons Richard Joseph Janese and Daniel
Karrigan Janese. Rich is survived by his wife Mary Ann Karrigan, his father LTC
(retired) Richard P. Janese Sr., sisters Dawnelle (Robert) Maffei, and Daria
(Theresa Johnson) Janese, and several nieces and nephews. Rich entered the San
Francisco Police Department on September 28. 1981. Richard graduated from the
Police Academy on January 24, 1982 wearing Star #1089. Rich worked the following assignments during
his career: Mission Police Station (January 24, 1982), Southern Police Station
(May 2, 1982), Mission Police Station (November 3, 1982), Parking and Traffic
DP (August 27, 1985), Muni Transit (September 9, 1985), Taraval Police Station
(April 18, 1987), Records (November 18,1989), Taraval Police Station (March 19,
1994). Richard Janese retired on with a service pension on January 28,
2005. Richard was awarded a Bronze Medal of Valor
for services rendered on December 10, 1982 at 0240 hours. Richard and Michael
D. Becker were dispatched to a serious disturbance at 3050 24th
street. The Officers observed a suspect fleeing the scene and gave chase. The
Officers who ordered the suspect to stop, were able to reach him while in
pursuit, and as they reached for him the suspect then swung a machete (with a
24” blade) at Officer Becker’s neck. Becker ducked and struck the suspect with
his knee knocking the suspect off balance. The suspect swung the machete again
at the Officers who were able to take the suspect to the ground and disarm him.
The Officers subsequently learned that the suspect was attempting to chop down
the door to a Tavern and assault the owner. Rich was awarded with his second
Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on January 25, 1985 at 1910 hours.
Rich and his partner Michael D Becker responded to 1746 15th
Street#140 on a call of a man creating a disturbance. The Officers arrived and
spoke to a female while observing the male suspect to be seated in the front
room. The disturbance was abated and the female did not wish to pursue the
matter. The Officers and the male subject exited the building as another man
ran up to the Officers and stated the male person who had just left threatened
to “blow him away” as he brandished a gun. The Officers pursued the suspect and
observed him to holding a gun in his right hand. The Officers notified
Headquarters and repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop his revolver. The
suspect refused and quickly turned pointed his firearm at Officer Becker and
then at Officer Janese. The Officers drew their service weapons but were unable
to fire due to a large crowd that had gathered. The Officers ordered the
suspect to drop his firearm repeatedly until he finally complied. Janese and Becker
took the suspect into custody and seized the firearm. Because they exhibited
outstanding bravery in the face of a life threatening situation while choosing
not to use deadly force, and accomplishing their objective without injuries to
the parties involved, Janese and Becker were awarded the Bronze Medal of Valor.
Richard was awarded a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on
Tuesday May 30, 1989 at 1620 hours. Janese with Officers Juanita Stockwell,
Brian Ogawa, Glenn Mori, and Inspector Pat White responded to 1910 48th
Avenue on a call of Domestic Violence. Upon arrival the Victim displayed a
fresh burn mark to his left shoulder and advised that his boyfriend had just
thrown a pan of boiling water at him. The Victim’s boyfriend had allegedly
“gone crazy” and was attempting to burn down the residence. The Officers made
their way through acrid smoke which was emanating from a pan of boiling
substance held now by the suspect. The suspect cocked the pan to throw the
substance at the Officers. The Officers drew their service weapons and ordered
the suspect to drop the pan. The suspect responded by saying “go ahead and
shoot, I want to die”. The Officers continued to talk the suspect in an effort
to persuade him to drop the pan. The suspect finally complied and was placed
under arrest. Rich was awarded his second Police Commission Commendation for
services rendered on Monday April 10, 1989 at 1550 hours when he and Officer
Tim Quan responded to a call of a suicidal male in possession of a weapon. The
Officers arrived at 2212 21st Avenue and met the suspect’s father.
The suspect’s father informed the Officers that his son was locked in the
basement and was out of control on drugs and alcohol. The father, a neighbor,
and the Officers attempted to talk to the suspect through a closed door. The
suspect yelled “I have a gun, I’m coming out”. Both Officers recognized the
sound of a magazine catch on an automatic weapon. The Officers drew their
service weapons and took a position of cover and called a “code 33”. The
suspect opened the door quickly and then shut it. After a tense armed standoff,
the suspect exited the basement with hands held high and was taken into
custody. The Officers seized a fully loaded .22 caliber Luger carbine and the
nearby bed with a 30 round clip snapped into the firing position. A loaded .38
caliber handgun and two other firearms were also seized. Richard was awarded
his third (and in the same year) Police Commission Commendation for services
rendered on October 17, 1989. Rich and Officers Joseph Finigan, Juanita
Stockwell, Hermann Chu, Wade Bailey, Andrew Rofles, Darcy Keller, and Tim Quan,
and Lieutenant Ronny Rhodes responded to the Park Merced Towers area subsequent
to the Loma Prieta Earthquake that struck earlier that day. Three of the
buildings suffered severe damage and housed senior citizens, many who had
sustained injuries. Lt. Rhodes set up a Command Post and the above Officers
escorted and carried out several senior citizens to safety and treatment. Many
of the injured persons were transported to the Emergency Evacuation Center that
was set up at St. Ignatius College Prep. Rich Janese with Officers James
Blanson, John Bourne, Toney Chaplin, Richard Dellagostino, James Jackson, John
Lanfranchi, Tim Quan, Warren Yee, William Clinton, Robert Steger, and Sergeants
Andrew Blackwell and James Speros were awarded a Police Commission Commendation
for services rendered in February 1993. This group of Sergeants and Officers
conducted team policing in the Oceanview area of Taraval District that resulted
in the investigation and arrest of several Vietnamese suspects who were
responsible for several armed crimes. Rich was awarded one more Police
Commission Commendation for services rendered on June 27, 2000. Rich approached
a suspicious and apparently vandalized vehicle in the Sunset Circle parking
lot, adjacent to Lake Merced. A male and a female were standing next to the
truck. Officer Janese conversed with the male. During the conversation the male
became enraged and began yelling at Officer Janese. The man grabbed a knife and
a cleaver from the truck and brandished them at Janese. Officer Janese, who was
less than 10 feet away from the armed suspect, drew his service weapon and
ordered the man to drop his weapons. The suspect responded by swinging his
knife and cleaver at Janese numerous times and yelling “kill me, kill me, put
one in me”. Janese requested back up and continued to order the suspect to drop
the weapons. The suspect moved toward Janese
continuing to swing the weapons and yelling for Janese to shoot him. Janese
observed innocent bystanders nearby and did not use deadly force. After several
orders to disarm, the suspect finally complied. Officer Ron Gehrke arrived and
the suspect surrendered himself to the Officers.
David Vizcay, age 50: David V.
Vizcay was born to Victorio and Patricia Vizcay on February 21, 1968. David
entered the San Francisco Police Department on October 19, 2009 and was
assigned to star #2394. David worked the following assignments during his
career: Ingleside Police Station (May 1, 2010), Northern Police Station
(February 5, 2011), Southern Police Station (November 10, 2012), D.O.C.
(February 14, 2015), Southern Police Station (February 28, 2015), Tenderloin
Police Station (December 19, 2015), C.S.I. (November 26, 2016), and finally to
the Tenderloin Police Station (January 21, 2017). David retired on August 1,
2019 due to a terminal medical issue. David had a passion for woodwork and will
be remembered for his many handcrafted designs. David is survived and dearly
loved by his wife Liliana, sons Ian and Alex, mother Patricia, his brother
Thomas (Alejandra), his sister Mary (Oscar), his nephew Gabriel, and nieces
Amaia and Laura, and by his Tenderloin Police family. David was preceded in
death by his father Victorio, and his sister Julie.
The WOAA sends our deepest condolences to the families of James Kerrigan, and Will
Scott.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month.
Old Business: No report this month.
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 all of
our passed members. President Kane adjourned the meeting and scheduled our next
meeting for Tuesday November 12, 2019. The meeting will be held at the Hall of
Justice at 850 Bryant Street, room #150, in San Francisco, California. The
meeting will commence at 1230 hours.
To All Members: Members can access our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org.
To access a beneficiary form click on the Resources box on our face page and
the link will appear. Please complete the form with all required information
and obtain the signature of a Notary, or by one of our Board members. The SFPOA
and the SFPCU (now the Police Credit Union) both have Notary service at no cost
to the SFPD members. We give our monthly thank you and appreciation to those
people who take time out of their life and/or career to assist our efforts in
providing the finest customer service possible: Retired S.F.P.D. Captain and
the long running SFPOA Defense Administrator Paul Chignell, Retired.S.F.P.D,
Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper Website Rene LaPrevotte,
Retired S.F.P.D. Sergeant and the long standing editor of the SFPOA Journal Ray
Shine, Risa Tom of the Police Commission Office (by way of then ACTIVE and now
RETIRED S.F.P.D. Sergeant Rachael Kilshaw), David Ng of Personnel, and finally
to the entire S.F.P.D. Traffic Command and its’ Officers who graciously afford
us available space for our meetings and files.
