by Andree Niswander

Reporter

Hudson -- Volunteers showed up by the dozens to support a police officer who is serving his country overseas.

Hudson officer Walter Shields was deployed to Kuwait in June with his 140-member Port Security Unit 309 of the U.S. Ninth Coast Guard Reserve, a mission that eventually is headed for Iraq, according to fellow officer Brian Battaglia.

Shields has been with the Hudson Police since April 1997 and is a member of the department's crisis intervention team.

And while the 38-year-old is on duty abroad, community members lent a hand to take care of the soldier's Boston Township home front. Organized by fellow officers at the HPD, more than two dozen volunteers landscaped Shields' property July 12.

It's important to thank our troops, in any way possible, said detective Kaija Jeantet, who helped to coordinate the effort spearheaded by Battaglia.

"Any time anybody makes a sacrifice of leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar in order to serve the greater good, it's important for the rest of us who are still here in our comfort zone to go above and beyond for them, as they're doing for us," she said.

Serving on an estimated one-year mission, according to Jeantet, the officer received landscape assistance from numerous area organizations, businesses and individuals.

Sagamore Soils donated mulch, Suncrest Gardens of Peninsula provided hanging baskets and other discounted plants, Hudson Subway fed volunteers and more than $500 was donated by various community members and associations to defray additional landscape supply costs.

For folks who were not able to volunteer, there will be a poster-sized greeting card in the police department lobby through July 20. It will be delivered to Shields overseas, according to Jeantet.

Everyone in the community is welcome to, "come write a message to him," she said.

For more information, call the Hudson Police Department at 330-342-1800.

E-mail: aniswander@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3947