From left, John Reynolds, Zachariah Goodyear, Kenneth Plikerd, Paul Hoffman and Jared Hoover, work together to plant the large Cleveland pear tree. Kathleen Goodyear estimated the tree was about 20-feet tall.

SYRACUSE — The town of Syracuse has a few shining heroes, at least in the eyes of Kathleen Goodyear.

Goodyear is an employee of the Syracuse Police Department, sort of the “mother hen” of all the officers working with her. She manages the office with great attention to detail, and worries about each of the guys like they are her own. When officer Jim Layne lost his stepson, Chris Prater, in a tragic train accident, the entire department felt the loss.

Goodyear wanted Layne and his family to know his stepson’s young memory would not be forgotten.

“I wanted to commemorate his son, so I ordered a tree sight unseen,” said Goodyear. “I thought a couple guys could pick it up.” She had plans for her family to help her plant the tree for Layne and his wife, Jenny, but when the tree arrived Goodyear realized she may need help.

“It had a rootball about three feet wide,” laughed Goodyear, “and it’s about 20-feet tall.” Syracuse Street Department Foreman, Paul Hoffman, saw her struggles and offered to move the tree for her. After getting the tree to the Laynes’ property, it wasn’t long until Hoffman realized she would need a few helping hands to get it in the ground.

Hoffman let his crew know once they had punched out for the day there was a tree that needed planted. Hoffman, Jared Hoover, Zachariah Goodyear, Kenneth Plikerd, Chet Los and John “Tiny” Reynolds showed up and got the job done. The men dug the hole for the tree and planted it, cutting the binds keeping the branches up with some improvised equipment.

Goodyear and the rest of the officers said they are thankful for the time and commitment these community members showed, noting the tree wouldn’t have been planted without their help.

Syracuse employee Chet Los had to improvise a tool after realizing the top of the tree needed binding removed. According to Kathleen, Los used a shovel/knife combination to reach the top of the tree. The crew knew how to get the job done.