I’m going through old SF Chrons on microfilm slowly but surely. I found a 1968 article commending Officer Fouke. I will post a scan of the article when I am able but it’s so dark that people viewing the forum on their phones probably wouldn’t be able to read it.
San Francisco Chronicle
Mon. Oct.7, 1968
S.F. Policeman Cited for Bravery in Park Shoot-out
San Francisco policeman, Donald A. Fouke, has been cited by the International Association of Chief’s of Police as one of the world’s bravest cops.
Fouke, 29, will receive a bronze plaque as the winner of an honorable mention in the associations third annual Police Service Awards.
The award stems from a bullet-punctuated chase from the Richmond District in and out of Golden Gate Park the night of October 27, 1967.
Fouke chased an ex-convict who had just robbed a supermarket into the park and after exchanging several shots, was able to kick the bandit’s gun away from him and subdue him.
One of the reasons he got the award was because he "handicapped himself" by holding his fire rather than risking shooting a bystander or motorist, a spokesman said.
Fouke, now assigned to the communications bureau, has been on the force four and a half years. He and his wife Eileen have a four year old son Todd.
He is the first San Francisco policeman to be cited by the Association for "bravery beyond the call of duty."
EDITED TO ADD SCAN OF ARTICLE
Great story! Wish we had more like that in the paper these days.
That is a great story. I think it also shows Fouke would have gone after Zodiac, had he known…
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
It shows just how good he was at his job and that he has very high integrity. That in itself shows why he wouldn’t lie about stopping Zodiac.
It shows just how good he was at his job and that he has very high integrity. That in itself shows why he wouldn’t lie about stopping Zodiac.
Unless he was instructed to lie.
It shows just how good he was at his job and that he has very high integrity. That in itself shows why he wouldn’t lie about stopping Zodiac.
Unless he was instructed to lie.
Yes he was instructed to lie back in 1969, SFPD wanted to cover up the true identity of the killer, who is obviously Earl Van Best, and Fouke continues to perpetuate the lie to this day because he was told to do so.
THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE!
