The regular meeting of the Widows' and Orphans' Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department was called to order by President Joe Garrity at 2PM in the Conference Room of Ingleside Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by President Joe Garrity.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present were President Joe Garrity, Vice President John Centurioni, Treasurer Joe Reilly, Secretary Mark Hurley, Trustees Mark McDonough, Bill Gay and Bob Mattox. Excused were Harold Vance and Matt Gardner. Also presented newly elected Treasurer John Fewer and Trustee Al Luenow.
MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER MEETING: Motion by Centurioni, seconded by Mattox that the minutes be approved as published. Motion carried.
BILLS. Treasurer Joe Reilly presented the usual bills. Motion by Gay, seconded by McDonough that the bills be paid.
WE HAD SEVEN DEATHS THIS PAST MONTH.
ROBERT J. HARWOOD, 40 years. Bob was born in Soquel, California and went to Santa Cruz High School. He served his country as a member of the Coast Guard. After discharge, he took the Police Examination and entered the Police Academy in 1995. His first assignment was Richmond Station. After a year at Richmond, he was assigned to Taraval for three years. He then was transferred to Northern where he made Sergeant in 2007 and was transferred back to Richmond. In 2008 he was assigned to Central, where he remained the remaining few years of his life.
RICHARD D. ESTRADA, 71 years. Rich was born in Denver, Colorado. His family moved to San Francisco and settled in Bernal Heights. He attended Poly High School and served his country in the Air Force. He worked as an orderly at San Francisco General Hospital and a senior clerk typist before he took the examination and entered the Police Academy in 1964. His first assignment was Potrero Station. A year later, he went to Mission. A few years later, he went to Central for nine years. He was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to Northern. He worked on the operation "S" squad and in 1982 made Inspector. He worked General Works, Robbery, and Fraud. He was awarded numerous Captain's Comp's and one Silver Medal of Valor and three Bronze Medals. He received the Silver for his actions in disarming an armed suspect who fired a shot at him as he was approaching him in front of a tavern on 16th Street. He just finished firing several shots into the ceiling just before he was apprehended. A Bronze Medal For his arrest of a suspect who just shot a man and was attempting to shoot him again. Richard was in a furious struggle on the stairway before he made the arrest. He was awarded another Bronze Medal for overpowering and arresting an insane man with an axe who came after him and had to be put down. He was awarded another Bronze Medal for awaking sleeping tenants of a burning building and carrying two of them to safety, even though he suffered from smoke inhalation.
ROBERT L. CLEARY, 73 years. Bob was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Excelsior. He attended Balboa High School. He proudly served his country in the Army. Upon his discharge, he came home and took the Police Examination and entered the Police Academy in 1962. His first station was Ingleside. Three years later, he went to Central. From Central, he went to Planning and Research. Bob received a Bronze Medal of Valor for his arrest and disarming of a suspect who was threatening a citizen with a knife. Unfortunately he had to leave the department with a Disability pension in 1971.
LUCIO GARCIA, 88 years. Lucio was born in San Francisco and grew up on Potrero Hill. He attended Mission High School and served his country in the Navy. After his discharge, he returned home and took the Police Examination. He entered the Police Academy in 1945. His first assignment was Potrero Station. After a few years he was transferred to Southern. Six years later he went to Mission Station. He was awarded a like-work Sergeant job and was transferred to Ingleside. A year later, he retired on a service pension as a Sergeant. He was awarded several Captain's Comp's for his everyday work in uniform. He worked Hotel security in retirement.
GERALD J. SHAUGHNESSY, 82 years. Gerry was born in San Francisco, grew up in the Excelsior, and attended Balboa High School. He also went to U.S. F. and served his country in the Navy during WWII. After his discharge, he returned home, took the Police Examination and entered the Police Academy in 1951. His first assignment was Headquarters Company. He then went to Central. He was detailed to the Inspectors Bureau, then made Sergeant /Inspector. He remained there until 1967 when he made Lieutenant and worked at Southern, Central, and the Academy. In 1971, he made Captain and was assigned to Hdq. And BSS. In 1976, he went to Patrol Bureau Headquarters. He worked Vice as his final assignment before he retired on a disability pension in 1977. He was awarded a Bronze Medal of Valor for his actions in an off-duty arrest of a suspect in a robbery of a wholesale jeweler. He pursed the suspect and disarmed him of a .38 cal revolver.
THOMAS JAMES GRIFFIN, 60 years. Tom was born in San Francisco and grew up in Noe Valley. He attended Riordan High School and was employed as a janitor before he took the Police Examination and entered the Police Academy in 1970. His first assignment was Potrero. A year later, he was detailed to the Intelligence detail for a few months before going to Mission Station. He then worked Central and Potrero before going to the Warrant Bureau. He then went back to Mission and was transferred to the Dog Unit. He made Sergeant and worked Southern Station before he retired with a Disability Pension in 1991. Tom was awarded three Silver Medals of Valor. One for the arrest of a suspect who stabbed a victim with a piece of broken glass. He had to overcome the suspect and use his service revolver to make the suspect drop the glass. The victim had over 40 stab wounds. He was awarded another medal for his arrest of an armed robbery suspect who fired at the officers. The suspect was running from officers when he fell and was overpowered and arrested. Tom was awarded a Gold Medal for his actions when off-duty on disability leave. He witnessed an armed robbery and chased the suspects to a garage area and identified himself as a Police Officer. They fired at him and he returned fire. He had to use his left hand because his right arm was injured and in a sling. At least one of his shots hit one suspect and other officers were able to follow the blood trail to make arrest. When awarded the Gold Medal he was given a enthusiastic well done by the Police Commission.
GUS BRUNEMAN, 81 years. Gus was born and raised in San Francisco. He was raised in Cow Hollow and went to Galileo High School. He served his country in the Army during WWII. He also went to USC, SF State, and Golden Gate University. He took the Police Examination and entered the Police Academy in 1951. His first assignment was Park. A couple years later, he went to Northern. In 1960, he made Sergeant and went to Richmond. He then worked Central and Southern. He worked the original Dog Unit when assigned to Southern. He made Lieutenant in 1966, and was assigned to Northern. He then was assigned to Community Relations and Inspectors Bureau. He made Captain and worked Ingleside and Crime Prevention. He also worked the Property Clerk, Juvenile, Central, and Operations. In 1977, he served as Supervising Captain and Commander of Patrol. Gus retired with a Disability Pension in 1979. Gus received several Captain's Comp's and a Gold Medal of Valor for his arrest of a robbery suspect who just held up a liquor store. He and his partner, Art O'Keefe ordered the suspect to drop the gun. He turned to point gun at officers and was shot and wounded. Gus also was awarded a Bronze Medal of Valor for the arrest of an armed robbery suspect. With everything Gus did he had time to raise a family (two sons in department Mark and Kurt) was co-founder of PAL and coached football. Gus was a great boss and always took care of his troops. We all have a lot of great memories because Gus was a part of our lives.
COMMUNICATIONS. Receiving and processing retired member's dues.
DROPPED FROM MEMBERSHIP. Pursuant to Article III, Section III of the By-Laws. (Did not complete probationary period) Khang Do, Timothy Hallisy, Matthew Hom, Dennis Jeong, Timmy Ku, Robert Lyons, Christina Snyder, Luis Viera, Lin Xia, Charles Charanghat and Charles Mc Carville. President Garrity ordered them removed from membership roles.
Treasurer Joe Reilly reported the following suspensions. I worked with a lot of names on the list and can't believe you would let your membership go with nothing to your family when you die.
SUSPENSION FOR NON-PAYMENT DUES SIX MONTHS Article III, Section III of the Constitution. Ivan Chavez, Stephen Christie, Mario Machi, Walter Posey and Timothy Tang.
REINSTATED TO MEMBERSHIP: Article III, Section 5 of the Constitution Michael Gannon and Jeffery Lindberg,
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION. (NON-PAYMENT OF DUES FOR ONE YEAR) This list is unbelievable to me for all the time you pay your dues, you no longer have any benefits to your family) DROPPED FROM MEMBERSHIP
JAMES BLANSON, JACK CIPP ARRONE, NANCY DOWNER, DAVID DUGGER, RANDY FLANNERY, THOMAS FOGARTY, BRUCE GENDRON, HENRY HUNTER, JOHN KANNISTO, JACK KILLOUGH,GEORGE MALIM,MICHAEL NOWLIN, EUGENE REED, ROSALIND REID, ADELE ROBERTS, VERNE ROHME, JIMMIE TOLIVER, JOYCE WATKINS, GARY WOMMACK, HERMAN DIGGS AND KARL SELCHAD.
If your name is on the list or you know anyone please attempt to get in touch with them and have them call us at 415681 3660.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES: Our representatives from Wells Fargo Bank gave us a report. WE are a lot better off then we were last year. We gained $792,039.00 to our account. That is with all our expenses and paying all our death benefits for the year. They reviewed a letter from Manatt, who offered to do pro-bono legal work for us and A Motion by Trustee Bill Gay that we go along with them and let them help us. Seconded by Bob Mattox. We will form a committee and meet with them in the near future.
OLD BUSINESS: The Officers for the year 2010 President John Centurioni, Vice President Matt Gardner. Trustees Bill Gay, Mark McDonough, Harold Vance Jr., Bill Gay and newly elected Al Luenow. Secretary Mark Hurley, Treasurer John Fewer. President elect John Centurioni Gave a big thanks to outgoing Treasurer Joe Reilly and President Joe Garrity.
NEW BUSINESS: Please keep your beneficiary information up to date( This last year we had to pay the beneficiary that the member puts down, and we know they wanted someone else. Give us a call 415 681 3660 and we will take care of your address or beneficiary changes)
ADJOURNMENT: Newly elected President John Centurioni had a moment of silence for our departed members and those men and women serving our country in the armed forces. He set the next meeting for Tuesday February 9, 201 0 at 1:45 PM in the Conference Room of Ingleside Station. The Meeting was adjourned at 3:10 PM.
Fraternally,
Mark Hurley, Secretary.
