“Now more than ever Andy Wall will need the support of his community,” states a letter of explanation on a fundraising page to support the Sandy Hook resident.

Earlier this fall Ofc Wall underwent surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, and faces radiation and chemotherapy in coming months, states the letter, signed by “Friends from the Monroe Police Department.” Wall has been an officer with the Monroe department for nearly 20 years.

Police Department supporters have established a fundraising site at www.gofundme.com/b47k3h3w. There, readers can see the letter detailing his service, and current effort to relieve financial stress of accumulating medical bills.

Upcoming medical treatments “will remain ongoing and will hinder his ability to return to routine life and work,” the fundraising letter states.

Monroe Police Department Detective Matthew Muccioli in a recent e-mail wrote: “The members of the Monroe Police Department decided to create the page as a way to raise money for Andy for his medical expenses and to ease the financial stress on his family.” He and Officer Brooke Larsen are page administrators.

The GoFundMe effort has raised more than $20,000 in roughly one month, toward a goal of $50,000.

“Right now Andy is continuing his cancer treatments and is in good spirits,” Det Muccioli wrote.

Longtime friend Steve Hechler of Newtown hopes the community is able to help.

“He’s funny. He’s got a great sense of humor,” he said. Both traits are clear from his smiling image found on the GoFundMe page. Mr Hechler described him as a “decent and hardworking guy. If anyone ever called him for help, if they were stuck in the driveway, he would be right there, that’s just the kind of guy he is.”

Officer Wall “seems optimistic,” Mr Hechler said.