Funeral Services Slated for Officer Gene Shields

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday for Officer Gene Shields, a 27-year Buena Park motorcycle traffic officer who started the city’s bicycle safety program for children.

Shields, a longtime resident of Buena Park, died of cancer on Friday at a La Mirada hospital. He was 57.

Shortly after joining the police force in 1959, Shields initiated the bicycle safety program in city elementary schools. Once a year he visited the schools, showing films and discussing bicycle safety tips.

He also served as traffic coordinator for the annual Silverado Days in Buena Park and was the PoliceDepartment’s liaison with the city engineering office.

During his years as a traffic officer, Shields received more than 40 departmental and citizens’ awards for good service.

Shields had planned to retire next year.

He was admitted to the hospital about three weeks before his death.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline; a son, Dale, who is a police officer in Huntington Park, and a daughter, Paula.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church of Buena Park. Graveside services will follow at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton. Renaker-Klockgether Mortuary in Buena Park is handling arrangements.