Category: Retiree Comments/Announcements

New Book by recent Retiree

5/23/2022

From: TERRY LOWE - SAPD Retired April 2019
Subject: Published Book
" MY 24 "
This is my tribute to the 24 line of duty deaths during my 30 years. It's on Kindle. After one year, I will donate my proceeds to one of the memorial or survivor benefit funds.
It's available for $9.99. My profit is going to be between $3 and $4. Please pass the information on.
Thank you and God bless.

Terry Lowe
1988-2019

COLA issue for retirees discussed

5/2/2022

Attached is info from Retired Police Officer Harold Flammia
It is reference of the Fire & Police Pension Board to issue a 100% COLA to members of the Fund.
It is Harold's personal belief that there has been no cry from eligible members from the different associations
to correct the problem.
Attached is the Info.

Veterans Memorial Service

11/11/2021

The 173rd Assault Helicopter Company :

Call sign “RobinHood” and “Crossbow” was deployed to Vietnam from 1966 to 1972.

As part of our reunion we have reserved the Arneson River Theater for a Memorial Service on Friday, 0900am, November 12 to honor all our fallen during the war and those who have died after tour. We will gather at the amphitheater seating of the Arneson.

They chose San Antonio for our reunion this year not only because it is a beautiful destination, but specifically to honor Sammy P. Rodriguez, from San Antonio, who was KIA in Vietnam while serving in our unit.

They will present his daughter, who was born after his death, and the rest of his family an opportunity to talk with and visit the pilots and crew members that were with him at the time of his death.
The service will start at 9:00am should be as follows:
•   Presentation of the Colors by the Breckenridge High School JROTC
•   Singing of the National Anthem by a member of the Army North Band, Fort Sam Houston.
•   Opening prayer and remarks from our unit Chaplin
•   Reading of the names of our fallen followed by the playing of Taps.
•   Opportunity for family members or friends to share memories of our fallen brothers.
•   Closing prayer by the Chaplin.
•   Playing of the bagpipes.
•   Fly over by the San Antonio Police Department Helicopter Unit.

Thanks, Reben Cerda - Retired SAPD
Semper Fi

Old Timer's Luncheon 2021

10/15/2021

Old Timers Luncheon - Police Benevolent Fund
The Benevolent Fund has announced the "Old Timers Luncheon " this year.
The date will be the 2nd Tuesday in December, the 14th.
The Old Timers invitations have been mailed. There have been many cards that were undeliverable because of bad addresses.
The Benevolent Fund uses address labels provided by the PENSION OFFICE so if a Retiree has moved and not updated his address info with the pension office your card was returned or trashed. RSVP IS A MUST FOR THIS EVENT .

Greg Garvelli, Benevolent Fund Secty/Treas:
FYI: The Pension Office requires that in order to update info Retired Officers and Widows "CALL IN" (210-534-3262) and talked to someone in the "Benefits Office"
in order to change any info. such as Address, Phone numbers, Marriage status etc.
The Pensioners Asso and the SAPOA cannot do this for you. Call the Pension Office. (210-534-3262)

Former SAPOA President quits Health Care Fund

8/11/2021

Former SAPOA President Harold Flammia submitted a hard hitting open letter explaining his reasoning for his decision to quit the SA Fire and Police Health Care Fund).

PDF Letter Is Attached.

flammia_letter_to_the_fund.pdf
File Size:	5888 kb
File Type:	pdf

May 15th, 2021

5/15/2021

TO MEMBERS OF THE
FIRE AND POLICE HEALTH FUND

May 1, 2021
I have come to the conclusion that if you don’t stay busy at home during this Covid-19 pandemic, you will become a raving lunatic by the time this is all over. I Have read many articles that refer to the many ailments that have sprouted up amongst elderly people that are confined to their homes.

You can only walk from room to room, over eat, watch T.V., dream of what was and what it is now. Physical and mental willingness ebbs from a person’s body. You become lethargic and lazy; you wait for this pandemic to be over. Someday it will be over; will you be in shape to continue to do what you used to do?

You have to energize yourselves. You have to do what you did before the pandemic; will you be ready? We as a people have to conquer this pestilence; we have to overcome this scourge. You must make up your mind to fight this menace. I think you may be getting an idea where this pep talk is going.

Exercise can counteract the negative effects of isolation and confinement stress on the immune function. It is also known that exercise improves the immune responses to infections. I want everybody to receive the absence of Covid-19 with a clear mind and a good working physique.

You know that I have written many exercise and health issues in the past. I have written these reports ad nauseum. I intend to continue writing these reports because I want you to be healthy. I’ve told you many times that the first 5-minutes are the hardest. Once you go through the first 5-minute start you will be limber and your mind will coax you to continue.

I don’t want you to say that you’re tired, you just finished eating, your knees hurt or that you have a head ache. I’ll give you a personal example of hurt. Both my knees are bone to bone; even walking, the pain is excruciating. My right shoulder had major damage when I dislocated it and the first 5 minutes are very hard for me to start.

In spite of all my problems and my aches and pains, I still work out 7 days a week. I work out with weights for and hour and fifteen minutes. After that I walk one mile and sometimes two miles every day. I’m at my computer 6 or 7 hours every day.

I just finished writing a 300-page biography of my life. This book is my legacy to my children. I just started writing another book titled; “people that greatly influenced my life.”

I am looking forward to a knee replacement on my left leg in the next few months. My greatest fear is that I will have to stop exercising for 1 or 2 weeks. I have sacrificed a lot in my life time; I want you to sacrifice a little of your time so that you can do your daily exercise.

Don’t spend your time lamenting what you can’t do. Its just a state of mind; you are the owner of your body. Take care of it, nurture it, don’t let it stay dormant; since your body is a gift from God, you should use it as God intended.

COURAGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL VIRTUES, BECAUSE WITHOUT COURAGE, YOU CANNOT
PRACTICE ANY OF THE OTHER VIRTUES CONSISTENTLY.

Moral of the story: Courage and gratitude are two of the most important virtues available to man. Courage defines the true character of a man. Courage is what motivates man to forge forward and continue the development and advancement of mankind. It takes a daring man to dream and to persevere. Gratitude is the other virtue that goes hand in hand with the virtue of courage. The virtue of Gratitude is to give recognition and thanks to the individuals that helped you to dare; to dream and to act.

In Memoriam

5/14/2021

Retiree John Martin sends us this photo of Sgt. Dave Alsbury whom he kindly remembers.

Covid-19 Funeral Assistance

3/29/2021

From: Eddie Pinchback
Subj: Covid Info
FEMA will begin to implement COVID-19 funeral assistance in April (Funeral Reimbursement Program). FEMA is reimbursing
up to $9,000 for COVID-19 funerals. Any family member that incurred COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep
and gather documentation. For info click on the link below.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov

Retiree David Putnam

8/8/2020

From: Charles Ross [mailto:mdr@gvtc.com]
Subject: SAPD ( Retired ) Dave Putnam, Owner of Alamo City Gold and Silver

Guys, I just got off the phone with David Putnam, owner of Alamo City Gold and Silver. He has been battling Covid 19 himself and has been in the hospital for 8 days. He is now released and Covid negative.

As you know, Dave has made " End Of Watch " Pendants (Badges) for many years for Officers who have given their lives in the Line of Duty. This includes Officers dying from Covid 19. There have been over a 100 Officers who have died from this disease nationwide. That's NOT counting the officers who have died from gunshot, motor vehicles, etc. The Pendants are given to the next of kin with an accompanying letter thanking them for the service and sacrifice of their loved one.

He is over a 100 Pendants behind. He, again, is asking for donations to help offset the cost of the pendants. Each pendant is approximately $130.00 each. He pays for this out of his pocket. He has set up a GoFundMe account. You can access this Fund by going SADiamonds.com. There is a GoFundMe attachment.

Dave is asking for any donations you can spare. Even $5.00 would help.

I told him maybe he is taking on too much, but this is something he starting doing years ago, and he doesn't want to stop. This is Dear to his Heart. I'm asking as a friend, if you can afford to help in ANY AMOUNT, please do.

Thanks, Mike Ross

Retiree looking for a PPK

6/26/2020

From: Request from Dave Putnam
If you have, or know of anybody , willing to sell a PPK, please contact Dave Putnam, 210-930-3900.(M-F, 1000am-600pm)
Thanks

Retiree's Lunch

6/26/2020

From: Robert Farley
Subject: Snoga’s Lunch

Saturday, June 27 at 1:00 pm, we will meet at Snoga’s. Wear a mask or sit away from the crowd, are still invited with that option available.
The address is 2567 Goliad Rd and they take cash, check, debit cards, and credit cards, with the exception of American Express.

Robert Farley

New Book by retiree

5/13/2020

From: Billy Anders
Subject: Latest Book

"Murder at Toltec Gorge" is a new book I've written. It's historical fiction, set in 1927. Best source is Amazon, and there are several reviews posted.
It draws on some experiences while at SAPD. Profits are used for charity work. Hope you'll check it out... Thanks!

Just click on this link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=murder+at+toltec+gorge&crid=FPGD68ZK3TVR&sprefix=murder+at+toltec+%2Caps%2C177&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_17

SAPD Retirees write books

5/9/2020

Good Reading

Willie T Walker Jr is the Author of several Fiction books such as:
“The Warrior”, “La Maniqui” and “To The End Of Time”

Billy Anders is the author of several books such as:
“Foxtrot, We're On The Way!: Helicopter Stories” and “A Cop's Prison Letters to Cloudcroft”

Where is Bob Gladden?

5/9/2020

Where is Bob Gladden?

Got a phone call from Bob this week. He lives in Roosevelt, Texas. That’s west of Junction about 30 miles. He has a ranch out there. They have no cell phone coverage, internet, FaceBook. He has a land line 325-446-4250. His address is PO Box 37, Roosevelt, Texas 76874.

Would like to chat with old friends (or any friends) that remember him. Retired in 1980. He was on Capt Dunaway patrol shift

New Chief in Town

4/30/2020

New CHIEF in Town (Terrell Hills, Texas) May 2020

Roger Mangum (Retired SAPD) will be appointed CHIEF of Terrell Hills.
Congratulations on your appointment.