Confidence…
By an overwhelming vote of 1,126 to 256 (81%), our membership extended its Memorandum of Understanding (contract) through the year 2015. The membership raised its collective voice and once again moved to “do the right thing.” Along with wage increases (which were due after a previous vote to defer raises one year), the security of knowing that our contract will stay in tact in its present form is very reassuring.
Like our President, I applaud the sensibility and foresight of our membership to do what so many Law Enforcement Agencies and their respective local or state governments have been unable to do. Many other agencies that lacked the foresight to negotiate suffered lay-offs and/or furlough days.
By not “closing the door” to conversation with The Mayor’s Office and dynamic leadership shown by so many people on both sides of the aisle (City and Unions/Associations) we seized an unprecedented opportunity given the current state of our country’s economy. One does not need to look too far to see the hardships that the layoffs in law enforcement can cause. Just look at how many agencies, ours included, are reconfiguring their departments’ structure to meet the continuing demands of serving the public while facing the reality of a shrinking work force.
Not having the specter of layoffs hanging over their heads offers many of our younger members a sigh of great relief. It’s never fun having to go through an experience in which your job and ability to raise and support your family lays in jeopardy. Once again we see just how our families and loved ones are affected and impacted by current affairs and the responding actions of this association to the fiscal challenges.
For those members with retirement on the horizon, not having to go through another contract negotiation process and knowing the contract in its present form will remain through their last days on the job also provides a great sense of comfort.
For those members that neither comprises our junior or senior element, the vote to extend the contract gives a strong sense of stability in terms of wages, benefits and working conditions. The contract extension also gives the economy a chance to balance and improve itself.
We also look forward to the great economic possibilities for San Francisco with the impending America’s Cup activities.
Without a doubt, our membership proved its mettle once again by doing the right thing and the smart thing.
Our willingness to come to the table has not gone unnoticed by Mayor Ed Lee, other responsible civic leaders, members of the media, and most importantly, the public we serve.
What a Team!…
The following incident exemplifies how important great teamwork is and the outstanding results that can result. It happened on June 25, 2011, 18:13 Hours, at the intersection of Jones and McAllister Streets, in downtown San Francisco.
Shootings involving five victims and eleven witnesses are rare enough, but to have the suspect detained within a half an hour after the shooting is outstanding! Thanks to members of Southern Station, Central Station, Tenderloin Station, Tac, Muni, FRET, and the Gang Task Force, this is exactly what happened. The crime scene was actually larger than one city block of Market Street. Within moments of the shootings, victims were getting care from medics, witnesses were being identified, and a crime scene was being established and protected.
This was the result of a great cooperative effort between members from the above listed stations. Additionally, within a few minutes, TAC had already detained several potential suspects and had a gun in custody. Soon after that, Gang Task Force members detained even more suspects and had another gun in custody. In all, fifteen suspects were detained at six separate sites. With help from members of Taraval, Ingleside, and Northern Stations, “Cold-shows” with the witnesses were conducted at all sites.
Further investigation narrowed the suspect down to a single shooter; a juvenile who was later booked into custody.
Many, many officers, sergeants and inspectors were involved in this collaborative effort. Although time and space do not allow for a description of each member’s role in the incident and their specific performance, suffice it to say the following members engaged in excellent police work. Although their actions may not have fallen within the criteria governing Medals of Valor, Meritorious Conduct or Police Commission Commendations, their collective efforts clearly demonstrated remarkable dedication to duty reflecting deserving credit to the members and certainly the San Francisco Police Department.
Southern Station: Officer David Goff; Officer Matt Sullivan; Officer Mike Peralta; Officer Gregory Salcedo; Sgt. Peter Thoshinsky; Officer Darryl Ayoung; Officer Scott Cairel; Officer Chris Canning; Officer Simon Chan; Officer Leonard Cueba; “Dimo”; Officer Armando Maracha; Officer Noel Schwab; Officer Frank Tjia; Officer Yossef Azim; Officer Eithne Cummins; Officer Ralph Kugler; Sgt. Danny Miller; Sgt. Leonard Poggio; Insp. Bassey Obot; Officer Patrick Faye; Officer Anthony Castellanos; Officer Anthony Pedroza.
Central Station; Officer Jesse Heredia; Officer George Perez; Officer Robert Duffield; Officer Norm Rice; Officer Rod Lee; Officer Yaraslov Shablinsky; Officer Eric Robinson; Officer Eric Tapang; Officer Ryan Jones; Officer James Horan; Officer Leo Bernstein; Officer Mark Milligan; Officer Randy Nielsen; Officer Chuck Simpson; Officer Joseph Sirigusa; Officer John Shanahan; Officer Edmund Huang; Officer Anh Nguyen; Officer Sammy Yuen.
Tenderloin Station: Officer Aaron Foltz; Officer Thomas MacMahon; Officer Jason Maxwell; Officer Michael Nguyen; Officer John Fergus; Sgt. Shaughn Ryan; Insp. Monica MacDonald; Officer Joseph Sharlow; Officer Joseph Shelley; Lt. Eric Quema.
TAC/Muni/FRET: Timothy K. Yee; Sgt. Manny Bonilla; Sgt. JaHan Kim; Officer Adam Choy; Officer Chris Olson; Officer David Wakayama; Officer Culbert Chu; Sgt. Andy Meehan; Officer Jason Garden; Officer Steve Hampton; Officer Thomas Smith.
Richmond Station: Officer Stephan Degland; Officer Chumeng Tov.
Taraval Station: Officer Joseph Mendiola; Officer Eric Santiago.
Gang Task Force: Sgt. Kevin Knoble; Officer Barry Parker.
Criminal Investigations Unit: Inspector Jay Newman.
Ingleside Station: Officer Krystal Castillo; Officer Matthew Leong.
Northern Station: Officer Michael Grande; Lt. William Canning.
Crime Scene Investigations: Officer Ann Gamboa; Officer Pamela Cunningham and Sgt. Paul Weggenmann.
Congratulations to each and every one of you for an outstanding job!
Sentinels of Freedom…
The “Great” Stephen Bucey of Mission Station is a Board Director of the group “Sentinels of Freedom,” a Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation that in part works to support our severely wounded men and women of the armed forces. The Sentinels of Freedom is a unique service provider supporting severely wounded/disabled veterans for four years following their medical discharge from the Armed Forces. Sentinels of Freedom started as a local organization in San Ramon, California in 2002 and expanded the program nationally in 2007. Since inception, Sentinels of Freedom has accepted over 64 men and women into the program with over twenty graduates. These severely wounded veterans come from all branches of service (Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines and Coast Guard). Sentinels of Freedom believe that for the severely wounded, it takes a sustained period of support in multiple forms to provide the greatest opportunity for long term success.
This a wonderful organization which could use your support and you can help by signing up for their 4th Annual Golf Tournament which is scheduled for Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Diablo Country Club. For further information regarding the Sentinels of Freedom Golf Tournament or their organization, please contact Officer Stephen Bucey at Mission Station at 415-558-5400 or go online to www.sentinelsoffreedom.org
Blood Drive…
Thanks to one and all for the great turnout at the Blood Centers of the Pacific/SFPOA Blood Drive held on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the POA Building.
Almost 50 pints of blood were collected on that day! As always, I am very grateful for the kindnesses and considerations of our members and civilian employees of the SFPD in this most worthy and very important event.
Special thanks go to retired SFPD members Mark Hawthorne and Debbie Braden for their continued support and tireless efforts with our blood drives. You guys are the best!
A very special “tip of the hat” to Christina Mihalas of the Blood Centers of the Pacific and her outstanding staff for all their great work.
Our next blood drive is tentatively scheduled for November of this year…watch for the notices…
