By Tracy McCray
Well, the time has come. With my recent promotion to Commander, I’ll be stepping down as President of the San Francisco Police Officers Association. It’s bittersweet, to say the least but as Carol Burnett used to sing at the end of every show, “I’m so glad we had this time together.”
When I first stepped onto the Executive Board as Sergeant-at-Arms, I never imagined the road ahead. I was proud to be the first woman to hold that role, and even prouder to later be elected Vice President and ultimately President, by my peers. Unopposed. That trust meant everything to me and every day I have given my all to live up to it.
These past years haven’t been easy. The policing profession has undergone seismic changes, and our department has felt every tremor. We’ve seen a shift in experience, expectations, and values and leading through that storm has been one of the greatest challenges, and honors, of my career.
I didn’t always agree with every perspective or proposal that came across my desk, but I listened. I weighed each one to the best of my knowledge at the time. Like any officer who has walked a beat, made a call, or led a shift, we do our best to make the right decision for the moment, and for the people who count on us.
There were highs and lows. While we were spared the unthinkable pain of losing an officer in the line of duty, we endured heartbreaking losses of active members and catastrophic injuries to others. Those moments tested us deeply. They brought grief but also revealed the strength and heart of this union.
Through it all, I worked hard to bring stability, calm, and support to our members. I tried to answer every email, text, and phone call, sometimes late, sometimes with hard answers. If I missed you along the way, please know it wasn’t for lack of effort. I gave it everything I had.
To Cyndee, Leah, Debbie, Paul, Mike, Kevin, Val, and Alberto, you’re the heartbeat of the POA. You made this job doable when it felt impossible. Your guidance, grit, and love helped shape the leader I became and the person I continue to grow into. I’ll miss you more than words can say.
A special thank you to Ray and Georgette, thank you for your patience when my articles came in at the last minute! You always made me look good!
To Erika, thank you for making my email blasts out to the members and retirees a thing of beauty!
To Dustin, thank you for being the voice of reason and sometimes not! What a ride it’s been having you by my side, you are the best and don’t ever change!
To Rocky, thank you for your guidance and wisdom, I may not have always acted on what you advised me on, but I did listen! I could not have asked for the most wise and astute confidante. Thank God you still have another Tracy aka T Wats in your corner (thank you for being the best coordinator, always trying to get us together for all those meet & confers-you should get a nice raise for all your hard effort).
To Kevin, Louie, Dan, and Gaetano, thank you for seeing me through to the end of this road. I have no doubt you’ll serve the members with everything you’ve got. It’s not an easy path, but each of you brings something unique and valuable to the table. I’m proud of what we’ve navigated together, and now I pass the baton to you. Good luck, I’ll be cheering you on.
To the members: We may not have always agreed, and you may not have always liked or understood every decision the POA made under my leadership, but I hope you always felt the work came from a place of commitment. Commitment to your rights, your safety, and your future. The strength of our union is our unity. If you want change, be a part of it. Get involved. Show up. Back one another. Our power is in standing together for better…wages, benefits and working conditions!
It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to serve you.
And so, I’ll leave you with this:
I’m so glad we had this time together,
Just to have a laugh or sing a song.
Seems we just got started, and before you know it,
Comes the time we have to say… so long.
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