ge See - SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION VOLUME 31 SAN FRANCISCO, AUGUST 1999 NUMBER 8 Monsignor John Heaney A message from the President POA Officer of the Month POA Public Relations: Doing It Our Way By Chris Cunnie calling on pro- fessionals only little more than two years when we abso- ago, a spirited discussion took lutely needed Aplace at a POA General Mem- to. bership meeting. The issue was the Lots ofbrain- media. Specifically, that local cover- storming fol- age of the SFPD was biased, and lowed. We had failed to present a true image to the limited re- public. The board members felt that sources, and POA President Chris Cunnie, left, and Kevin "Ace" O'Connor, right, present Police the media failed to adequately report realized thatwe Chaplain, Monsignor John Heaney, center, with a plaque honoring him as the POA all of the good and honorable things would have to Officer of the Month. Many friends and well wishers attended the ceremony at the about the department, particularly be creative in POA building on July 20, 1999, including the police department administration and in regards to the everyday activities order to work within our means. command staff. The honor was bestowed on the Monsignor in appreciation for the of patrol officers. The consensus of Nonetheless, all of us were surprised years of service to our Department, to the Association, and the innumerable was that there were only two types of at how quickly the good ideas devel- officers and families that he has ministered to in their times of need. media coverage about San Francisco oped and evolved. In the end, we police officers: either it was 1) nega- decided to focus on four primary tive; or 2) non-existent. avenues of public relations: a public One of the members most frus- memorial to fallen police officers: a trated with this media issue was Bob public access television video; spe- Mammone, the representative from cial neighborhood editions of the TTF. He spoke of scores of selfless Notebook; and an Internet web site deeds performed by street officers on with Email rosters. a daily basis that never received even Dan Linehan volunteered to in- an inkling of acknowledgement. He vestigate the possibility of obtaining admitted that it was probably to be broadcast time on local television expected, considering that none of channels. His work paid off. He re- the individual officers had done any- ported that the POA could get airtime thing in order to gain media atten- - possibly at little or no charge - tion. Nonetheless, Bob felt that the but we must first have a finished public would like to know about these video product in-hand and ready to POA Treasurer, Jack Minkel, standing left, emulates the Monsignor in the practice unsung acts; that they would be show. The Board acted quickly. They of the ear tug (see photo above). This followed a presentation by Jack of a set of interested in meeting the real people directed Dan and Bob Mammone to keys to a car donated to the Monsignor by Mr. Nick Dutto, owner of Metropolitan behind the star. As it was, only the begin working on what would a huge Electric. negative things made it into the me- undertaking— the shooting and pro- dia or, occasionally, a positive story duction of our first video. But, more set-up by the Public Affairs Office. on that later. The Board of Directors was pretty Meanwhile. I had begun organiz- much of one mind: that the rank- ing plans for a police memorial in and-file did need to "blow on their Union Square - another major pro- own horn a bit", especially since we duction. This was a big job, and I were gearing up for a comprehensive could not have pulled it off alone. Prop A campaign. It was decided that Under the skilled guidance of long- the POA initiate an on-going public time POA friend Joyce Aldana, a pri- relations campaign. Among those vate media consultant, a committee most in support of the idea were was formed to make it happen. Those Mammone, Matt Gardner, Matt on the committee were Captains Rich Castagnola, Dan Linehan, George Cairns and Rick Bruce, and Officer Rosko, Glenn Sylvester, and Lynne Matt Castagnola. I made it clear to all As Chief Lau and members of his staff Atkinson. The entire Executive Board that this was to be a solemn event, look on, Monsignor Heaney, inspecting his —Gary Delagnes, Jack Minkel, Steve yet I knew that most civic leaders new car at the driver's door, expressed his Johnson, and me - agreed, as did would want to participate. I decided delight and appreciation for the "barely Notebook editor Ray Shine. The mem- early on that they would do so by used" Ford T-Bird given to him by Nick bers also wanted this to be a cam- invitation only. This was to be an Dutto. The car was his for the taking A better view of the Ford T-Bird donated to Monsignor Heaney by paign waged from the heart, reports event for our members and their however, since this is San Francisco, the families, not a photo-op for pout!- Monsignor will need to use his eminent Nick Dutto. Mr. Dutto owns about police officers by police offic- contacts with the Higher Authority in order Metropolitan Electric, and is a long- ers. It was decided that we would do to obtain more appropriate and readily time friend and supporter of the POA as much of the PR as we could, (see PRESIDENT, page 4) accessible parking. and the department. Page 2 Notebook August 1999 Widows and Orphans port. Convention Delegates were fi- Police- nalized-Castro, Corrales, Eriwin, Gay, Harms, Hurley, and McMurtry. Aid Association Fire It was decided that the Post would pay half the cost of a rental car at the The regular meeting of the Wid- grew up in North Beach. He attended Post 456 Convention. ows' and Orphans' Aid Association of Galileo High School and worked as a Corrales gave a reports on Boys the San Francisco Police Department Warehouseman with a Ice Storage By Greg Corrales State and on the Officer of the Year was called to order by President Wil- Company on Lombard St. He entered Dinner. New Business—Danker vol- liam Hardeman at 2 pm in the con- the SFPD in 1936 stayed for five Do all the good you can, unteered to make efforts to increase ference room of Ingleside Station. years before going back to working In all the ways you can, member participation of Post activi- ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS; All five with Local 3844 as its Secretary- In all the places you can, ties. On the same note, Commander Trustees present, namely Jeffery, Treasurer, a job that brought him At all the times you can, Hurley emphasized the need for new Kemmitt, Fontana, Crosat and National attention, working with the To all the people you can, younger members of the post to take Kurpinsky. Vice president Garrity,. Defense Production Administration As long as ever you can. charge and rejuvenate the Post. He Treasures Sturken, and Secretary working with the unions and govern- then regaled us with his Pico Mead- Hurley. ment during the war. He also did the - John Wesley Rules of Conduct, ows experiences with some active MINUTES OF THE JUNE MEET- same in the Korean Conflict. Dan circa 1770 duty Marines. ING;. Changes made to include Mo- was a very successful Boxer and won Struckman reported that he has tion on the Bills by Kurpinsky, sec- the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight n Tuesday, 8 June 1999, made inroads into the USMC recruit- ond by Crosat. Motion Carried. Also Championship. He lost in the Na- Police-Fire Post 456 held ing situation at Sacred Heart High the age of Joseph Mendiola to 86. tionals, the winner in his division O their last meeting (no meet- School. APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MEM- was a fighter by the name of Joe ing in July). 1843 hours-Meeting Officers for 1999-2000 were BERS AND SUSPENSIONS; None for Louis. He kept his membership in called to order by Commander Hurley. elected: Commander- Brian Danker, this month. the Widows and Orphans all these Pledge of Allegiance. First Vice-Joel Harms, Second Vice- BILLS: Treasurer Sturken pre- years. Prayer by Post Chaplain Castro. Richard Struckman, Sgt.-at-Arms- sented the usual bills. Motion Garrity, ALAN L. PERINI: 61 years. Al was Preamble to the American Legion Michael Mattich. Al Aguilar, the se- seconded by Fontana that the bills born in Granite City, Ill. Upon mov- Constitution recited. Commander nior member present presented a be paid. Motion carried. ing to San Francisco, he lived in Noe Hurley read minutes of the last meet- plaque to outgoing commander Mark REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES: Valley, and attended Poly High. Mili- ing. Moved by Aguilar and second by Hurley for the outstandingjob he did Trustee Kemmitt will set a meeting to tary service saw him serve his coun- Kelly to accept the minutes as read. as commander for 1998-1999. Com- work on the revision of By-Laws. try in the US Army. Upon returning Passed. mander Hurley gave an inspirational Sturken, Crosat, Hurley along with to San Francisco he worked as a No guests or new members. Fi- talk to the incoming officers. 2005 Kemmitt will meet and make the first Concrete Refinisher before entering nance Officer Castro read the finance hours—Prayer by Chaplain Castro, draft within the next few weeks. the Police Academy in 1960.