LEBRATIN CE G FRANCIS N CO SA 40YEARS P O LIC E W O S M ER EN OFFIC MayorDonor Lee See Supportand Back Generous Page SFPD See Page 11 c Official Publication Of The C SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION This Publication was Produced and Printed in California, USA ✯ Buy American ✯ Support Local Business VOLUME 47, NUMBER 1 SAN FRANCISCO, JANUARY 2015 www.sfpoa.org We Are Not The Enemy By Martin Halloran SFPOA President I cannot remember a time when there has been more anti law enforce- ment sentiment circulating through our society. It is not surprising coming from the anarchist who hijack legal and lawful 1st amendment demon- strations only to vandalize, loot, and Martin Halloran Paul Kelly Barry Donelan assault officers. What is particularly SFPOA President SJPOA President Elect OPOA President disturbing is the rhetoric being spewed by some media outlets, some elected politicians, and some who claim to be faith based or community leaders. An Open Letter to the Residents of Many of these organizations and these individuals are simply fanning the San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland flames of discord and are attempting As the presidents of the three largest police unions in public safety servants. Demonstrators in New York chanted to drive a wedge between peace officers the Bay Area, our overriding responsibility is to ensure that in unison: “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want and the communities we serve. each and every police officer we represent makes it home to it? Now!” That was disgraceful. So, too, was witnessing The assassination of two NYPD protest marches in the Bay Area degenerate into violence, uniformed officers along with the his or her family after every shift. Police officers must swear destruction and mob rule. Despite the efforts of organiz- ambushed killings of officers in Florida to uphold our constitution, and we also take seriously our and North Carolina coupled with the responsibility to protect the First Amendment rights of the ers, too often protests were hijacked by shameful cowards attempted ambush killings of LAPD public we serve. Unfortunately, recent events threaten to who take refuge behind the truly law abiding demonstra- officers have shaken our profession to bring these two great responsibilities into conflict. tors while destroying property and injuring our officers. the core. When did those who “serve Our members and their families have been shaken to The overwhelming majority of our members — who and protect” become the enemy and the core by the brutal slayings of two New York City police represent the most diverse police departments in the na- when did it become open season on us officers and a Tarpon Springs, Florida police officer. All of tion — bear such malice in dignified silence. Even follow- simply because we wear the uniform? our members are on heightened alert. In the line of duty ing the murder of three of their own, our officers continue It is the police that are out on the with their duty, answer your calls, respond to your crises, streets answering the calls for help, deaths of police officers are up significantly: 120 police officers have already paid the ultimate price for protecting fulfill their mission, and honor their commitment to the protecting the vulnerable in our soci- people of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. their communities in 2014. ety, and protecting life and property. In short, they will always be there when you need them. This is a never ending assignment, The protests that followed the grand jury decisions in In return, as their “voices” we simply ask that you join 24/7, 365 days a year. We have taken Missouri and New York are a legitimate expression of our them in a cooperative effort to keep our streets safe, and an oath to protect and serve and we First Amendment traditions. The reaction is not unex- to engage in constructive dialogue that calls for a common shall not waiver from it. pected but the vilification of front-line public servants by sense approach to very complex issues. In this edition of the Journal there some politicians and media pundits has been demoralizing are a number of articles related to cur- May we all take this holiday season as a time to reflect and unjust. Public safety in the Bay Area and the nation rent events surrounding law enforce- and pray for one another and search for solutions together ment in Missouri, in New York, and will be a subject of major debate going forward and we will as the law enforcement community honors those who have here in San Francisco. There are some each participate vigorously in that debate. fallen in the line of duty. very relevant positions made in these But what few have acknowledged until now is that too articles with questions that I hope will often the legitimate expression of views has devolved into Martin Halloran Paul Kelly Barry Donelan be answered in the near future. The vilification and violence against this nation’s front-line SFPOA President SJPOA President Elect OPOA President peace officers of this country are not the enemy. To my brothers and sisters in the On average: US police fatality every 3 days SFPD and all of law enforcement I say: stay vigilant, back each other up on the street, stay united, stay safe, but most of all stay strong and proud of your profession. 126 Law Enforcement Officer Slainte! Fatalities Nationwide in 2014 Firearms-related fatalities spiked 56 percent while ambush attacks remained the leading cause of felonious deaths Washington, DC—Law enforce- Forty-nine officers were killed in activities (3), accidental shootings (2), ment fatalities in the U.S. rose 24 per- traffic-related incidents this past year. burglary in progress (2), investigating cent in 2014, reversing what had been Twenty-seven officers died due to other drug-related matters (1), robbery in two years of dramatic declines in line causes in 2014, including 24 who suf- progress (1), and tactical situations (1). of duty deaths, based on preliminary fered from job-related illnesses—such Traffic-related incidents were the data compiled and released today by as heart attacks—while performing second-leading cause of officer fa- the National Law Enforcement Officers their duties. talities in 2014, with 49. Of these 49 Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Firearms-related incidents were the officers, 35 were killed in automobile According to the NLEOMF report, number one cause of officer deaths in crashes, nine officers were struck and 126 federal, state, local, tribal and 2014, with 50. killed outside their vehicle and five territorial officers were killed in the Ambush attacks resulted in 15 offi- officers were killed in motorcycle line of duty this year, compared to cer deaths, the leading felonious cause crashes. 102 in 2013. The number of officers of deaths among officers in 2014 and killed by firearms in 2014 (50) was 56 for the fifth straight year. The other During the past year, more of- percent higher than the number killed leading categories of felonious deaths ficers were killed in California (14) by gunfire in 2013 (32). Ambush-style in 2014 were traffic stops or pursuits than any other state; followed by attacks were the number one cause of (8), investigating suspicious persons Texas (11); New York (9); Florida (6) Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, #882-320) (USPS CA felonious officer deaths for the fifth or activities (7), disturbance calls (6), and Georgia (5). year in a row. attempting arrests (4), investigative Visit www.nleomf.org Page 2 POA Journal January 2015 Minutes of the December 10, 2014 SFPOA Board Meeting* 1. Treasurer Joe Valdez called the units with more than 2 members Hdqrt/Admin: Kevin Moylan, John made the motion, and it received meeting to order at 12:00 hours. will require an *election. The online Evans a second from Representative Scott 2. Treasurer Joe Valdez led the board election will be held from January Tactical: Mark Madsen, Brent Bradford Edwards (Mission). It passed unani- in the Pledge of Allegiance. 12 through January 16, 2015. Investigations: Matt Mason, Tom mously by voice vote. 3. Secretary Mike Nevin conducted *Central: Larry Chan, John Van Koll, Harvey 9. President Halloran said the POA roll call. Ed Carew *Airport: Mark Trierweiler, Rey was disappointed in the federal 4. Glenn Sylvester (ret.) made a pre- *Southern: Maris Goldsborough, Dan Serrano, Jimmy Lee trial verdict. Sentencing is sched- sentation to the board regarding Miller, Louis Wong Retired: Ray Allen uled for February 23, 2015. the current state of the SF Police Bayview: Gerald Lyons, Chris Schaffer 7. Representative Raphael Rockwell 10. Supervisor John Avalos has pro- Credit Union. *Mission: Greg Stechshulte, Scott (hdqrt.) made a motion to approve posed a Board of Supervisors reso- 5. President Martin Halloran an- Edwards, Joe Clark the November 2014 minutes. The lution where he is attempting to nounced that Kim Scurr, UCSF Northern: Matt Lobre, Jesus Pena motion received a second from gin up support to attack American Medical Center, would need to Park: Paget Mitchell, Kenyon Bowers Representative Yulanda Williams law enforcement in general and reschedule her presentation. *Richmond: Yulanda Williams, Kevin (Richmond). The motion passed the SFPD in particular. The POA is 6. Rachel Murphy, co-chair of the Lee, Damon Keeve, Phil Busalacchi unanimously by voice vote. developing a strategy to respond to Elections Committee, took nomi- *Ingleside: Jim Trail, Crispin Jones, 8. President’s Message. President Hal- this ill-advised resolution. nations for the board of directors. Rob Walker loran requested a motion that the 11. President Halloran met with city She announced several nomina- Taraval: Jody Kato, Michael Ferraresi meeting be adjourned in memory officials regarding their response tions had been received and any Tenderloin: Kevin Lyons, Joe of Officer Hope Nechuta #124 to Ebola.